15 May, 2012

My Concerns About the Fiscal Treaty

1. The Treaty gives strong powers of oversight to the EU.  It removes the Dail as being the final arbiter of budgetary policy.  As such the Treaty signs away Irish sovereignty and freedom; and admits that there are powers above the Irish people who can determine what happens.

2. Governments will no longer have a free rein on wide economic policy and when to spend to stimulate the economy.

3. It marks the first genuine step toward a federal state where national governments are subservient to the European Commission or the E.C.B.

4. Because of the current world economic crisis, Germany is the only country in a strong position in negotiations and this moves the entire EU into the German model for the future.

5. The Treaty opens the door for the E.U. to decide exactly how money is spent in Ireland and the current troika arrangements may in fact become a standard in the future.

6. The Treaty carries no easing of the debt burden for Ireland and commits the country to a very large task in order to repay.  In such circumstances it seems both unreasonable and unfair, and a burden that will cripple Ireland as an entity making it no more than a footnote to the E.U.

7. The situation in Europe, Greece, France and Germany is changing each day.  

8. Forcing the people of Ireland to vote on a treaty that could change rapidly is bad leadership.

9. The markets are clearly signalling the need for Irish Debt Restructuring.

10. A Country cannot cut its way out of economic difficulties