European Life Network Newsletter
ELN
Special Issue 4           May  2008
In This Issue
Referendum Commission
MRBI Poll shows that the No side are in the lead
Power Grab by large groups in European Parliament
Referendum Commission
 
A body entrusted with impartially explaining the European Union's Lisbon treaty has said that it does not threaten Ireland's abortion-law. Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill, president of the Referendum Commission, said a protocol protecting the constitutional right to life was of the same legal status as an article of the treaty. [Irish Examiner, 5 June] When asked about the meaning of the removal of Ireland's veto over what the treaty calls "arrangements for the control of implementing powers" Mr O'Neill demurred. [Irish Examiner, 5 June] Patrick Buckley of European Life Network, said: "This is an ominous development when the person who is responsible for providing impartial information is either unable or unwilling to answer it. It does not augur well for the future that there are aspects of the treaty which are undefined. Despite his denial on the abortion issue this hesitation raises major questions." The popular vote on the treaty will be next week.
 
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MRBI Poll shows that the NO side is in the lead
 
An opinion survey suggests that the European Union's Lisbon treaty could be rejected by the Irish
people next week. The TNS/MRBI poll found 35% against the treaty with 30% for it. [Telegraph, 6
June] Political parties are redoubling their efforts to achieve a yes vote during the final days of the referendum campaign 
Greetings!
 
In the lead up to the Irish referendum we report once again in this special edition on issues relevant to the Lisbon Treaty and the EU in general. See our story on new anti democratic moves being planned in the European Parlliament to limit opposition to the agenda of the larger parties. These moves which have been kept quiet in order that they should not become an issue in the  referendum, create serious problems for Ireland's pro-life, pro-family community as they target the ability of deputies to form small groups, by raising the treshold to an unacceptably high level. thus affecting the ability of smaller groups to propose amendments to any unacceptable legislation.  To add insult to injury all this is proposed in the name of democracy. On the contrary what is really required for democracy is that it should be made easier to form groups and representation from three countries should be sufficient as it was when there were only 15 member states. We also report on a recent MRBI poll which shows Lisbon heading for defeat and the extraordinary press conference in which the chairman of the Referendum Commission failed to answer pertinent questions.
 
Ireland is the only country in Europe in which the people will have a genuinely democratic say in whether this treaty should or should not be accepted. If Ireland says yes to Lisbon we can be certain of more anti democratic decisions
 
 
Power grab by large groups in European Parliament, detrimental to pro-life, pro-family cause
 

A proposed Power Grab by Large political groupings in the European Parliament such as the Christian Democrats (EPP) and the Socialists (PSE) is intended to target small groups which can propose amendments to legislation and Euro-sceptic groups in particular. A report by Labour MEP Richard Corbett calls for new rules for political groupings in the Parliament, which would have the effect of eliminating small groups. The current rules for groupings within the parliament require that they have representation from one fifth, 20% of the member states and have a minimum of 20 MEP's.  In a parliament with 15 member states this meant representation from three states. In the new situation of 27 member states with others waiting in the wings this already implies representation from 5/6 countries. Under the proposed new rules however groups would require representation from 25% of member states and have a minimum of 30 members. This report, which will come before the parliament in the July plenary is aimed at groups such as INDEM (Kathy Sinnott's group), the Greens and UEN the group to which Fianna Fail belong. Should this vote be carried it would be a major setback for pro-life and pro-family deputies who are able under the current system to propose amendments to anti-life anti-family resolutions.   The importance of the Pro-Life-Coalition of MEP's within the parliament has been clearly evident during various debates and shows that it has always been the small groups which tabled sensitive amendments on pro life, bioethics and family-issues. INDEM and the Greens in particular were outstanding in the fight against the use of embryonic stem cells and human cloning. The larger groups, (apart from a small number of deputies) do not support pro-life or pro-family policies. Efforts to block the proposal in the Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO)  were only partially successful and the entire issue will now be voted on in the July Plenary after the Irish Referendum. In the meantime every effort is being made to keep this from becoming an issue for the Irish electorate prior to next week's referendum vote. During the debate on the issue this anti democratic measure was reasoned away by the PSE and EPP speakers who suggested that the abolition of small groups would lead to a coherent increase in the work of the parliament and that such a move would best serve democracy. They also blandly stated that members of those groups could either be non-aligned or should join the larger groups. Either option would remove their right to propose amendments. The two largest groups in the parliament - the centre-right European People's Party and the leftwing Socialists - have 64 percent of all the MEPs and may be able to push  the changes through despite the combined opposition. All of which leads to the question do they really understand that real democracy is 'of the people,  by the people, for the people?