Bernie McAdam
An overwhelming 67 per cent voted yes in the Irish referendum on October 2 approving the Lisbon Treaty. This was the second referendum to be held after the Irish people had already voted to reject the treaty by a majority of 7 per cent on June 8 2008. The Irish ruling class though deeply embarrassed by this first result had no intention of accepting it and gave notice that another vote would be held.
Brian Cowen’s Fianna Fail/Green Party government with the backing of the media and major establishment parties like Fine Gael and Labour as well as the support of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) launched a huge campaign to reverse the original result. The ‘No’ campaign had the support of some unions like Unite and TEEU, and the recently elected Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins, Sinn Fein, Eirigi, and a host of smaller socialist groups. The businessman and chairman of US Defence Contractor Rivada Networks Declan Ganley from Libertas and the Catholic far right anti-abortion group Coir also urged people to vote no with no progressive arguments and no reference to the interests of workers.
Big business gave generous amounts to support the campaign with Ryanair and Intel providing hundreds of thousands of euros for advertising. These supporters of the euro capitalist super state project failed to convince electors before but with the subsequent crashing Irish economy playing on peoples’ real fears they were able to scare enough voters to approve the treaty this time round.
Of course the cause of Ireland’s crash has more to do with the European Union’s neo-liberal agenda which the Lisbon Treaty represents than any supposed ‘protection’ it offers. The result will mean no respite to the onslaught on Irish workers as the Fianna Fail government and big business, with the prompting of Euro leaders, tries to force workers to pay for the economic crisis.
The need for a fight back is urgent. Over 15,000 angry community workers marched on the Dail on Wednesday 30 September against cuts in the Community sector. December’s Budget is set to be as draconian as the last one. ICTU’s Day of Action on Friday 6 November should be turned into a General Strike against the bank bail out and all the cuts. Time for action is now, we don’t need any more mealy mouthed words from the trade union leaders.