Latest Poll shows establishment parties out of touch with people’s views on Lisbon- People Before Profit Alliance

The latest Irish Times Poll shows establishment parties out of touch with people’s views on Lisbon- People Before Profit Alliance. The People Before Profit Alliance is campaigning against the Lisbon Treaty because of the impacts a ratified Treaty will have on democracy, public services and militarisation.

People Before Profit will be delivering tens of thousands of leaflets and canvassing in the last few days of the campaign.

Ailbhe Smyth, spokesperson for People Before Profit Alliance said:

“This recent poll confirms the message we’re hearing from voters all over the country: the Treaty is incomprehensible, the explanatory brochure from the Referendum Commission fails to explain it, and the YES side can’t manage to give us any sound reasons as to why we should vote Yes. We have felt the tide turning in the No direction over the past few days and believe that the Treaty will be closely rejected by the electorate.”

Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance said:

“The results of the Poll show that a majority of Irish people are opposed to the Lisbon Treaty as they are concerned about the increasing power of the EU, the introduction of water charges, private companies into public services, the reduction in worker’s conditions and the drive to increase military cooperation that is at the heart of the Lisbon Treaty.

For No speakers from People Before Profit contact:

Ailbhe Smyth 0872055433

Richard Boyd Barrett 0876329511

Eddie Conlon 0876775468

Labour Party attempts to distort the facts in Lisbon debate

A claim by the Labour Party that the No Campaign have misrepresented the position of the European Trade Union Council (ETUC) is entirely false and a distortion of fact. In a statement issue today by Eamon Gilmore TD, the Labour Leader claims attempts have been made by “Irish opponents of the Treaty to misrepresent the position of the ETUC…”

However, People Before Profit Alliance have today confirmed that the ETUC have indeed called for a social progress clause to be added to the Lisbon Treaty. In correspondence with the People Before Profit Alliance in recent weeks, the ETUC confirmed that the “ETUC asked for a social clause and that our affiliates are aware of it.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

People Before Profit No to Lisbon Campaign Site:www.no2lisbon.wordpress.com

People Before Profit National Website:www.people-before-profit.org