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It is a fact, for example, that nether IBEC nor the American Chamber of Commerce consulted nor debated the Treaty within their memberships.

It is also a fact that the IDA is led by Government appointees who are being disgracefully used by the Government for its own political ends.

For our part, we have clearly stated that under the Lisbon Treaty, the EU could legislate to allocate exemptions and limits to state aid for Foreign Direct Investment on the back of an EU-wide agenda for promoting regional convergence.

Eastern European countries could make tax policy that matches Ireland’s and could be further advantaged through being able to entice Foreign Direct Investment through regulatory and state or EU aid supports.

The threat of the Treaty provisions is that the EU could force Ireland to behave like a ‘rich’ economy in terms of regulatory and other breaks for Foreign Direct Investment. The implications of this are potentially devastating.

If, and when, the Yes side has a comment to make on this issue, we’ll be happy to hear from them.

Here are some other facts about what happens if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified:

 

1. Ireland’s vote in the Council will be cut by 60% while Germany’s increases by 100% and France’s by 50%

2. Foreign Direct Investment would come under the control of the Common Commercial Policy for the first time so that the Irish Government could no longer legislate in this area except with the permission of Brussels.

3. Ireland would lose its commissioner for five out of every 15 years – an Irish voice in the body that has the exclusive right to propose EU legislation

4. Ireland would lose its veto in 68 areas including over “competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market”, immigration policy, employment policy and many other areas.

5. The EU’s traditional commitment to “free and undistorted competition”, a key component of every EU treaty since the 1957 founding Treaty of Rome, has been relegated in the Lisbon Treaty by Nicholas Sarkozy, who upon removing the clause asked “what has competition ever done for us?” His idea is to have European business dominated by what he calls “National Champions”. This is code for protection of inefficient state supported industries to the detriment of European entrepreneurship and innovation, the growth companies that produce 80% of all new jobs in Europe.

6. So understanding that we would have our voting weight reduced, the competition clause relegated, surrendering 68 key vetoes, and conceding to having an unelected President and Foreign Minister. Any person familiar with business negotiation might ask, what do we get in return that we don’t already have? Nothing.

The Lisbon Treaty is a bad deal for Ireland, for Irish business, for Europe and for European business. A No to Lisbon is a Yes to a better Europe, no matter how many ‘business spokes-men’ Dick Roche rolls out. As somebody who’s been involved in international business for twenty years, I know a bad deal when I see one.

In the meantime, Libertas will be launching a major National advertising campaign within the next two weeks which will take our position on this issue to the Irish people”.