Libertas.org

Dick Roche has admitted that no further referenda are needed to change the contents of the Lisbon Treaty, according to a report in the Irish Times this morning.

According to John Downes and Mary Fitzgerald, writing on page 9 of this morning's Times, Minister Roche told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs that areas of decision making currently under unanimity could be surrendered to Brussels based on the approval of the Dáil and the Seanad.

This means that important areas of policy competence could be handed over to Brussels without need for a further referendum.

Libertas has repeatedly made this point in relation to article 48 of the Lisbon Treaty, - the so called "Passarelle clause", only for Minister Roche to repeatedly accuse the campaign of "lying" on the issue.

Responding to the news, Libertas executive director Naoise Nunn said:

"This confirms everything we have said on article 48.

We are giving our Government, under Lisbon, the power to hand over vetoes on issue after issue without consulting the people further. This is an enormous admission by the Minister.

What he is saying is that the contents of this Treaty can be changed without need of a further referendum.

Why is it that when we pointed this out, on December 13th, we were accused of lying by the Minister and his cohorts?

The truth is that we have been honest with the Irish people, and it is the Minister and his Government who have been misleading.

This admission this morning is all the reason people need to vote "No"."