Dublin People - Do you know what’s In The Lisbon Treaty

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Do you know what’s In The Lisbon Treaty

Friday, 23 May 2008

THE Government tells us that the Lisbon Treaty is designed to make the European Union function more effectively and democratically so that it can better serve the interests of the people of Ireland and Europe.
Cynics tell us that ratifying the Treaty will have huge consequences for issues such as neutrality and taxation and by ratifying it fundamental changes in EU institutions will inevitably come about.
As citizens of Europe we are all faced with a whole new spectrum of issues such as globalisation, climate change, the need for sustainable energy sources and security threats.
But will the Lisbon Treaty confront them all, or indeed any of them?
Perhaps a much more fundamental question that needs to be asked is do Irish people know what’s actually in the Lisbon Treaty?
Northside People took to the streets of Santry to ask people if they knew what is actually in the Lisbon Treaty.
Andy Bolton, Cabra, is a student and admits to not knowing anything about the Lisbon Treaty.
“I know nothing about it and nobody has ever tried to tell me anything about it,” says Andy.
“I’d say my classmates in college are all in the same position. If you want to get young people interested in something like this you have to make it interesting for them and I don’t feel the Government have really bothered.”
Eileen Lynam, Finglas, says she will be voting against the Treaty being ratified.
“I believe the EU has become a monolith, it’s become far too big and impersonal and I don’t believe it’s really serving the people anymore,” she says.
“Although I can see how Ireland has benefited from membership over the years I don’t believe the institutions should be given any more power. They have too much as it stands.”
Stacey Gannon, Ballymun, says young people just aren’t interested in the Treaty, or even in politics in general.
“I don’t know anything about the Treaty, it doesn’t interest me at all,” she says.
“Young people aren’t interested in it, I don’t think so anyway. You’ll find younger people are interested in the environment and animal welfare and things like that.”
Paul Brown, Santry, say he’ll be voting against the Treaty.
“It seems to me that all the politicians that I don’t like are all in favour of the Treaty being ratified, so I think I’ll vote against it,” he laughs.
“But seriously I can see a negative vote materialising that will say more about how people feel about the present Government than it will about the Treaty. I think there will be a very low voter turnout and the Treaty will probably be ratified, but they won’t have my vote.”
Stacy McCabe, Ballymun, says she has no interest in the Treaty and neither do any of her friends.
“I don’t really know what it all about,” she says.
“Most of my friends wouldn’t know anything about it either. All people of my age think about is going out and getting made up - that’s the truth.”
Lindsay Corr, Ballymun, agrees with her friend Stacy.
“You could ask any our friends and not one of them would be able to tell you anything about it, it just doesn’t interest them.”
Dermot O’Brien, Glasnevin, feels very positive about the Lisbon Treaty.
“We’re all Europeans now and anything that’s going to make the whole show run more smoothly is a good thing in my book,” he says.
“We’ve all done very well out of Europe and I wouldn’t trust a lot of the people who seem to be against the Treaty.

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