Will it ever be safe to say "No" to Europe?

Will it ever be safe to say “no” to Europe?

The answer to that question is a clear and unequivocal “No”.

We tried it in the Nice Treaty. And we had our wrists slapped and were told to try again. We did. And we reversed our vote.

Somewhat amazingly, the lion roared again for the Lisbon Treaty. We again said “no”.

A contrite Irish government once more had to face the barons of Brussels.

“Give us a second chance” they pleaded. “Our people are not the brightest penny in the European purse, even the Commissioner couldn’t read the document. And this time throw in a few frighteners”.

And Europe has responded. It has sent out its most brutal persecutor, Peter Sutherland, to do battle with the Irish electorate.

Peter Sutherland is an interesting character. He has been at the top in business, politics and banking. He is reputed to be the father of globalisation. As such, he is a favourite target of conspiracy theorists.

Be that as it may, Peter Sutherland holds an executive position in an exceedingly shadowy organisation known as the Bildeburg Group. This group is said to comprise of thirteen international figures, people of power within their own communities. They meet once every four years in some luxury hotel and their meetings are conducted without any known agenda, nor do they hold press briefings at the conclusion.

Denis Healy, onetime Chancellor of the British Exchequer is a founder member of the group and once said of it: “It is not fair to say of the Bildeburg Group that we are intent upon world government, though not entirely unfair.”

Peter Sutherland has fired the opening salvo of threats against the Irish electorate. Now we can expect those threats to rain thick and fast about our ears.

When fears come in at the door, democracy goes out the window.

Let us examine the position as it stands.

The Irish people reject the Lisbon Treaty. The Irish government, citing the confusion of its electorate, heads off to Brussels to negotiate a set of guarantees and, after a bout of shadow-boxing, returns home in triumph and, in a scene reminiscent of Chamberlain’s return from Munich, waves its guarantee in the air. Job done!

Now we can vote in favour of Lisbon. No problem.

Consider this. If the commissioner could throw out elements of the Treaty without care, then how much easier it would be to dispose of our guarantees, even if they do, as promised, become protocols? Just take a look at the major element concerning the number of commissioners. We have principles. If you don’t like them, we have other principles.

Europe is moving inexorably towards Federation. And a Federation of Europe will demand, of necessity, a standing army.

Try telling the Federation of the United States of America or, for that matter, what remains of the USSR, that state-controlled armies in their constituent parts would serve the needs of the Federation.

There is one upcoming issue which will determine the independence of Ireland within the EU. And that issue concerns the possible entry of Iceland into the Union.

Just recently, the people of Iceland voted, by a very narrow majority, to apply for membership of the EU. There is no doubt that the Icelanders would have much preferred independence, but the shocking greed of their bankers led them to the edge of a financial abyss (much like our own have done for us).

The acceptance by the EU of Iceland’s application to join will only become an issue should the Icelanders secure in their negotations a much-enhanced exclusion zone to protect their fisheris. It is here that the leadership of an Irish government will be tested.

Whatever the agreed extent of the Icelanders’ exclusion zone must automatically become the exclusion zone applying to Ireland. Iceland is an island. Ireland is an island. One size fits both.

Would anybody be foolish enough to believe that an Irish government will demand parity? Fear, on this issue as on so many others, will be the determining factor. As it will be in our second vote.

We have good cause to be frightened of Europe. But should we be cowed?