03/12/2007

Voters Should Not Misuse EU Treaty Vote

Irish people should not 'misuse' the forthcoming plebiscite on the European Treaty as a way of showing their ill favour with the Government.

The current EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevey has warned that voters must not use the upcoming referendum on the EU treaty as an opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the Government.

Speaking to the Association of European Journalists in Dublin, Mr McCreevey said it might be tempting for many to take that view but it would be highly irresponsible when such major issues were at stake and would risk damaging Ireland's national interests.

He said a range of issues such as combating drug trafficking, dealing with global warming, and integrating financial markets could only be tackled by member states acting together.

Mr McCreevey told his audience that the workings of the EU was beginning to 'creak' because the framework for a family of six could not be left unchanged now that the family had grown to 27.

Backing the new Treaty he said it was designed to facilitate the institutional reform that was now required.

(BMcC)

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