i consider organisations like youth defence fundamentalist - i consider some of the fringe activities of Coir and their members to be so conservative that they can be construed as fundamentalist. yes that is probably a personal preference rather that a scientific calculation.
Fair enough, but Coir is not running for any kind of office and its arguments are still well reasoned.
to say that the Irish government doesn't want a debate on Lisbon is simply not true. there has been more debate in Ireland than anywhere else.
But not because the Irish establishment wanted it, and it is true. The government has ruled that each side is not entitled to equal air time, because it seems, equal air time does not allow a balanced debate.
Jim O’Keeffe, of Fine Gael, explains:
“The forthcoming referendum on children’s rights had cross-party support, but the policy of giving equal airtime to both sides in a referendum debate could result in a group such as ‘a paedophile association’ being given 50 per cent coverage.” Do you really think he thinks the Irish people would be swayed by the arguments of paedophilia groups?
One of the major reason cited in the last irish referendum was that people didn't undestand what they were voting on. Hence the huge investment in different forms of comminication and a second vote.
Without allowing equal time for both arguments, you're proposing nothing more than a propaganda exercise.
Lisbon is supported by a cross range of groups from businesses, trade unions (European Trade Union Confederation is urging a Yes vote), environmental groups (European Environmental Bureau has called for its adoption) etc etc
And the government and their supporters found this out in surveys they had commissioned. Ignorant bog trotters, eh? As one Irish Times commentator put it at after the referendum,
[now archived behind a conscription wall] "while in a democracy one should never discount minority views, the outcome of the Lisbon referendum does raise questions about Ireland’s constitutional status as a representative democracy". Are we clear on that? It was the
outcome which was wrong; if the voters had voted in favour of the treaty, all would have been well.
Money certainly talks in referendums. The Irish division of the American based multinational, Intel, has publicly declared its supports for the Lisbon Treaty, with a full page ad in the Irish Times. Sucking up to the EU no doubt over its anti-trust ruling.
Lisbon is also opposed by a broad range of groups, left and right. It doesn't make either side's view *right* until the Irish people cast their votes.
