19th May 2008
Leading No campaigner to debate former Taoiseach in Lisbon debate tomorrow
As part of the National Forum on Europe meeting in Wexford tomorrow evening, leading No campaigner Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance will debate former Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald on the Lisbon Treaty.
Speaking prior to the meeting Boyd Barrett said “This is an important debate to have as the Yes side are being dishonest in the way in which they are presenting the Treaty.”
“The government and yes side are avoiding discussion of the treaty’s actual contents or systematically misrepresenting them. They are falsely suggesting that this is vote on whether we are for or against Europe when the real issue is what sort of Europe we want. The entire way in which this treaty was put together and its supporters are trying to get it ratified is undemocratic and designed to deceive.”
“The reality is that the Lisbon Treaty will make the EU more undemocratic and give citizens less control over vital decisions that affect their lives. Crucially, the treaty will facilitate the further privatisation of public services, including health and education. The Treaty creates a Europe committed to the free market and competition and restricts the power of member states acting to defend the public sector and the welfare of citizens. Despite constant denials by the treaty’s supporters, it will further militarise the EU and undermine what’s left of Ireland’s military neutrality. These are the facts that the government and the yes side are hiding.”
Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit will debate former Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald this Tues 20 May at White’s Hotel, Wexford at 7.30 pm
Ends
For further comment contact: 087 632 9511
———————————————————————————
19th May 2008
Press Release: Public Debate between Yes and No side a chance to get to the heart of the Lisbon Treaty
The People Before Profit Alliance will host a public debate this week in Dublin South East and people from across the city are encouraged to come and find out more about the Lisbon Treaty.
The public debate entitled: “Lisbon Treaty: Vote Yes or No? How will Lisbon impact on democracy, neutrality and public services?” takes place on Tuesday, 20th May at 8 pm in the SAYS Youth services office, 4 Whitefriar, Aungier St , Dublin 2.
Speakers at the debate include Des Bonass (Unite Union), Patricia McKenna (Chair of People’s Movement), a Speaker from the Irish Alliance for Europe and Rory Hearne (People Before Profit Alliance) who will chair the meeting.
Speaking prior to the meeting Rory Hearne of People Before Profit Alliance in Dubli South East said “We are holding this meeting to inform people about the Lisbon Treaty. It is disgraceful that the government has not sent a copy of the Treaty to every house in the country. If they wanted an honest debate about the merits or other wise of the Treaty they should have done this. This meeting is a chance to get to the heart of what the Treaty is about”
“I have read the Treaty and it is a fascinating document that reveals the extent to which the EU is developing as a superstate with military capabilities and promotion of market competition as its fundamental underlying principle. We will be debating with the yes side from the Irish Alliance for Europe and we encourage people to attend to get an insight into what impact the treaty will have.”
Ends
For further comment: 086 152 3542
——————————————————————————-
16th May 2008
Press Release: CPSU General Secretary’s claims on Lisbon Treaty are misleading
The People Before Profit Alliance challenges Blair Horan, General Secretary of the Civil and Public Services Union on a number of recent misleading claims he has made in support of the Lisbon Treaty.
Mr Horan has spoken in support of Lisbon Treaty citing the addition of “important social values” to internal market rules and that the commitment to “undistorted competition” has been removed.
On Public Services Mr Horan claims that the Treaty would not lead to further liberalisation of public services because, he claims, the treaty does not affect the competency of member states to provide public services. He relies on Article 2 of the Protocol on Services of General Interest to support his position.
Speaking for the People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin Central Convenor, Eddie Conlon, said: “Mr Horan’s claims are unfounded and misleading. A protocol attached to the Lisbon Treaty states that ‘Considering that the internal market as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union includes a system ensuring that competition is not distorted…’, which means undistorted competition is still the key principle driving EU policy and not social values.”
“As for public services, speaking on the Service of General Interest in November 2007 the Commission said in effect that most services are considered to be Services of General Economic Interest and are therefore subject to EU competition rules. These services are covered by article 1 of the Protocol.”
In fact, IBEC recently stated that “The Lisbon Reform Treaty creates the legal basis for the liberalisation of services of general economic interest. A yes vote for the Lisbon Treaty creates the potential for increased opportunities for Irish business particularly in areas subject to increasing liberalisation such as Health, Education, Transport, Energy and the Environment”
It is also the case that under Article 188C (4) the veto in relation to international trade agreements will be removed for social, health and education. This will make it easier to open them up to competition.
As for the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the charter will not have the same weight in EU decision making as the four freedoms, particularly the freedom to provide services, guaranteed by EU Treaties. This is clear given the outcome of recent cases before the European Court of Justice particularly the Laval case, which has sent shock waves through the European Trade Union Movement and led to the European Trade Union Confederation calling for an amendment to the Treaty. This amendment to the treaty can only come about by an Irish No Vote forcing renegotiation.
The People Before Profit Alliance urge all trade unionists to reject this treaty.
For further details contact:
Eddie Conlon, People Before Profit Alliance
087 677 5468
_____________________________________________________________________________________
14th May 2008
Press Release: The People Before Profit Alliance launched their ‘No to the Lisbon Treaty Campaign’ today
As part of their national campaign against the Lisbon Treaty, the Alliance will be distributing 150,000 thousand leaflets, 5,000 posters and canvassing door-to-door in more than 15 constituencies.
Ailbhe Smyth, the Co-Convenor of the Alliance said: “If it were enacted, the Lisbon Treaty would lead unerringly to an increasingly market-driven, more militarised and less democratic EU, designed to serve the interests of business and the wealthy.”
“The privatisation of essential social services, including education and health, would be vastly accelerated, and the rights of workers would be subordinated to those of employers.”
She continued: “The only democratically elected institution in the EU, the European Parliament, would still be deprived of the power to introduce legislation. The Citizens’ Initiative, much touted as a democratic advance, would have no political currency since the Commission would be required only to consider a petition without any obligation to take action.”
People Before Profit will also be focusing on the threat to workers rights posed by this new Treaty that enshrines the principal of the free-market and undistorted competition.
Ailbhe Smyth went on to argue that: “The much vaunted Charter of Fundamental Rights is nothing but soft-sell window-dressing for the Lisbon treaty and is designed to shift the focus of attention from the market, business and profit-driven thrust of the Treaty as a whole.”
“The vast majority of the rights included are already protected by other European and international human rights instruments, and that it fails to provide important new EU-wide rights for citizens.”
“The Charter in fact rolls back workers’ rights by failing to include a clause requiring the recognitions of trades unions. Basing its judgements on the Charter, the European Court of Justice has recently ruled against workers’ rights and in favour of employers and business interests. She added that nowhere in the Charter, nor in the Treaty as a whole, is there any commitment to the eradication of poverty.”
ENDS
For interview / confirmation contact
Ailbhe Smyth @ 087-2055433
For details of Wednesday’s Press Conference contact:
Sinead Kennedy @ 086-2612634
—————————————————————————
13th May 2008
PRESS RELEASE: DUBLINERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND LISBON TREATY DEBATES:
Rory Hearne of the People Before Profit Alliance, is encouraging people from accross to city to find out more about the Lisbon Treaty by attending upcoming debates between the yes and no sides. The first public Debate entitled: “Lisbon Treaty: Vote Yes or No? How will Lisbon impact on democracy, neutrality and public services?” takes place on
Tuesday, 20th May at 8 pm in the SAYS Youth services office, 4 Whitefriar, Aungier St , Dublin 2. Speakers at the debate include Des Bonass (Unite union), Patricia McKenna (former Green Party MEP), a Speaker from the Irish Alliance for Europe and Rory Hearne (People Before Profit Alliance ) will chair the meeting. Hearne said that the Lisbon Treaty will have very significant impacts on people’s lives in terms of the privatisation of public services, reducing democratic control and promoting the militarisation of Europe. It is really important therefore that people are informed of the issues, debate them out and get involved. This meeting in Aungier St is being organised to give people an opportunity to do this. Another debate is also set for Wednesday, 28th May in DIT, Rathmines Rd. Details to follow.
For information contact Rory Hearne at 0861523542
http://no2lisbon.wordpress.com/
www.peoplebeforeprofitdse.wordpress.com
———————————————————————————-
May 11th 2008
Press Release:
“Alliance calls on government to show same honesty about Treaty as IBEC”
The People Before Profit Alliance, speaking ahead of Fianna Fail’s launch of their Lisbon Campaign, call on the government to show the same degree of honesty as IBEC have on the Lisbon Treaty.
In a rare display of honesty IBEC exposed the neo-liberal underbelly of the Lisbon Treaty in their welcoming of the “new business opportunities” that will be opened up to Irish companies should Lisbon be ratified.
IBEC’s welcoming of the “increased opportunities for Irish business particularly in areas subject to increasing liberalisation such as health, education, transport, energy and the environment” confirm what No campaigners have long been arguing.
People before Profit spokesperson Niall Smyth commented: “Instead of trying to either frighten, bully or bore people into voting yes the People Before Profit Alliance call on the government to show the same degree of honesty displayed by IBEC and lay out the true implications of a yes vote to Lisbon.
Smyth continues: “People Before Profit are calling for a No on Lisbon because we believe that it will make Europe more undemocratic, increase the militarisation of the EU, undermine our neutrality and ultimately lead to further privatisation of public services including health and education.
“The Lisbon Treaty would creates a Europe committed to the free market competition and restrict the power of member states to act in defence of the public sector and their citizen’s welfare.”
Describing the much vaunted ‘Charter of Fundamental Rights’ as nothing but soft-sell window-dressing, Ailbhe Smyth, Co-Convenor of the Alliance, said it was “designed to shift the focus of attention from the market, business and profit-driven thrust of the Treaty as a whole. The vast majority of the rights included are already protected by other European and international human rights instruments. The Charter in fact rolls back workers’ rights by failing to include a clause requiring the recognitions of trades unions. Basing its judgements on the Charter, the European Court of Justice has recently ruled against workers’ rights and in favour of employers and business interests.”
The People Before Profit Alliance, will officially launch their No Campaign this week and will be campaigning vigorously across Ireland against the Treaty.
ENDS
For interview / confirmation Contact: Ailbhe Smyth (Convenor, People Before Profit Alliance)
087 2055 433
www.people-before-profit.org
———————————————————————
April 23rd
Press Release:
Minister Gormley must issue Ministerial Order to Dublin City Council to stop the Dublin incinerator now
Up to 50 local people from Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount made their opposition heard to the proposed Dublin incinerator at the EPA Oral Hearing on Tuesday evening April 22nd. Many expressed their disappointment that they had elected John Gormley to stop the incinerator yet now as Minister for Environment it appeared he is not using his powers to halt the planned mass-burn Incinerator.
Speaking at the Oral Hearing Rory Hearne, member of Combined Residents Against the Incinerator and the People Before Profit Alliance Dublin South East said:
“John Gormley must act now to stop the incinerator. The EPA Hearing has revealed the mass-burn incinerator will release dangerous dioxins across the city, affect traffic and will compromise the ability to reach recycling and waste reduction targets. The Minister could issue a Ministerial Order to order Dublin City Council to abandon its plans for the incinerator. This would result in DCC being sued by the private company who is planned to run the incinerator, Covanta, however the local community believes that would be a small price to pay to protect the health and environment of the community and for John Gormley to honour his pre-election promises.”
Contact Rory Hearne 0861523542 for info
———————————————————————————-
15th April 2008
Press Release:
Leaked Memo exposes Government Agenda on Lisbon
The People Before Profit Alliance believes that revelations today regarding a leaked memo from the Department of Foreign Affairs exposes the agenda of the government and the Yes Campaign in trying to ram through the Lisbon Treaty.
Today, while those in favour of the treaty conveniently continue to avoid addressing the actual merits of the Treaty, talk in generalities about the EU itself and invite neo-liberal politicians like Angela Merkel to Ireland to drum up support, the real face of the government’s strategy has been truly exposed.
A leaked memo involving the Department of Foreign Affairs demonstrates that the people of Ireland are not being told the truth about the implications of a yes vote and ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The memo from European Commission vice-president Margot Wallström told Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern “that the commission was willing to tone down or delay messages that might be unhelpful” in advance of the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Speaking today Ailbhe Smyth Co-convenor of the People Before Profit Alliance said
“The No campaign has argued that the full impact of a yes vote was not being explained truthfully by the government and yes side. This leak supports this contention. The reality is the European Commission and EU Governments are doing alot more in areas such as increasing militarisation, reducing workers rights and public services standards, creating free markets and competition, and strengthening EU law than the people of the EU would allow them to do if they realised what was going on. This leaked memo, in my view, reflects the contempt that EU governments hold for ordinary citizens. This memo itself is reason enough to vote No.”
For more info contact:
Rory Hearne at 0861523542
pbp_dse@yahoo.ie
www.people-before-profit.org
www.peoplebeforeprofitdse.wordpress.com
———————————————————————————–
9th April 2008
For more info contact:
Rory Hearne at 0861523542
pbp_dse@yahoo.ie
www.people-before-profit.org
www.peoplebeforeprofitdse.wordpress.com
————————————————————————————
3rd April 2008
Press Release:
Dutch MP to speak on Lisbon Treaty at pubic meetings across Ireland
For confirmation/interview contact
CORK: Saturday April 5th 2.30pm
Note for Editors:
2nd April 2008
Press Release:
The end of the ‘most devious and the most cunning’ must see real change in Ireland
“We are already seeing the re-writing of the legacy of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, as was done with Charlie Haughey after his departure. It was announced at a major health rally on the weekend that 5000 people per year die because of our inadequate health services which Ahern, as Taoiseach and his party are responsible for. Ahern has stood over the worsening of workers conditions, an historic level of inequality between rich and poor and the destruction of our environment, in places like Tara. The government should now go to the country to see what the people want. Had the electorate known in May what has since transpired about Bertie Ahern, it is doubtful Fianna Fail would now be in power.”
“It’s a disgrace that Ahern talks up his ‘legacy’ and tries to wash his hands of the both the crisis in the health and the widening inequality in this country. This is at a time when essential funds are being diverted away from care for elderly. It’s a scandal that Ahern can accept ‘dig-outs’, use political donations for personal use, while at the same time the elderly in our communities who paid their share by working and paying tax all their lives are being asked to take 80% of their pension income to provide for their care”
“The time has come for real change in Ireland. The health march in Dublin on Saturday last shows where real opposition lies and that is with the people. People Before Profit are for active support for grass-roots community and social movements to bring about real change in Ireland.”
————————————————————————————-
28th March 2008
Press Release:
Campaigners call for large turnout for health march
The People Before Profit Alliance supports the Dublin Council of Trades Unions national day of protest for March 29 demanding a decent public health service and is urging people to join this protest. The crisis in our health services goes from bad to worse and we need immediate action. The crisis stems from the low levels of spending which is less than 90% of the EU average. This is in the context of historic low levels of investment in the 1980s and 1990s. Current levels of spending do not make up for past neglect.
Rory Hearne, People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin South East stated:
“We are urging people to attend the protest to provide a strong message to the government that says no more health cuts, no more privatisation, no more hospital closures: we demand a quality public health service that is available to all. In our area the Government is closing St Luke’s Cancer Hospital despite the fact that it is the best hospital for radiotherapy treatment in the country. Closing St Luke’s is part of the Government’s agenda of running down the public health system in order to provide new opportunities for the private for profit health care companies.”
Councillor Joan Collins for the Crumlin/Kimmage area and of the ‘Supporting Save Our Ladys Hospital Campaign’ said:
“The proposed closure of Our Lady’s hospital in Crumlin is an absolute disgrace. Yes there is a need for a hospital of specialist care but not at the expense of closing more hospitals and more beds to go in the Health. The community and thousands of people nationally are opposed to the hospital closure.”Des Derwin, President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, said
“It is marvellous that such a wide coalition of groups, including the People Before Profit Alliance, are working so hard to make the march a success. They are backing up the united effort of the trade unions, patients’ and hospital groups, health professionals and community organisations to present one clear voice that it is time for a fully funded Public Health Service, accessible to all, now.”
