| > Ireland (again) this time on the Lisbon Treaty - 2008 then 2009 It wasn't just a straight re-vote through. Selected reasons for voting no, according to The Times (bearing in mind it was only 53:47 to no): > Protect neutrality - 10% > Keep commissioner - 10% > Protect tax system - 8% And according to Gallop (for the European Commission): > To safeguard Irish neutrality in security and defence matters - 6% > We will lose our right to have an Irish Commissioner in every Commission - 6% > To protect our tax system - 6% > It would allow the introduction of European legislation in Ireland, such as gay marriage, abortion, euthanasia - 2% Consequently, The European Council agreed that: > the necessary legal guarantees would be given that nothing in the Treaty of Lisbon made any change of any kind to the Union's competences on taxation for any member state; > the necessary legal guarantees would be given that the Treaty of Lisbon did not prejudice the security and defence policy of any member state, including Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality; > the necessary legal guarantees would be given that neither the Treaty of Lisbon (including the Justice and Home Affairs provisions), nor the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, affected the provisions of the Irish Constitution in relation to the right to life, education and the family in any way; > in accordance with the necessary legal procedures, a Decision would be taken to retain Ireland's Commissioner, provided that the Treaty of Lisbon was ratified; > the high importance attached to issues including workers' rights would be confirmed. |