Deja vu as Lisbon makes a second appearance

Once again it is time to take the finger out and get to the polling stations. It’s Lisbon time again!

But it’s different this time. Before nobody had a clue about the referendum or what it was about. Now people are more aware and less afraid. I think people are less afraid for two reasons;

Firstly - things really can’t get any worse for Ireland during this recession. We are screwed at the moment and there is little light at the end of the tunnel. It could be well into the end of next year before we get ourselves out of this mess and whether or not we will ever fully recover to the extent that our lives will return to what they once were - well that is all to be seen. So therefore saying yes to Lisbon is not a massive decision for people who have a lot more going on in their immediate lives, such as job losses, bill repayments, mortgages and providing for their families. Lisbon seems to fade into insignificance when we look at these more pressing issues affecting peoples’ lives.

People are less afraid this time around also because they are more aware of the fact that were it not for our membership of the European Union we would be a bankrupt untouchable country by now. Europe has been our lifeline during these recessionary times and it’s only now that people are beginning to realise it. We have been bailed out by our European counterparts countless times. We have borrowed in order to simply run our country on a day to day basis with little sight of any signs of ability to repay. We are a trusted member of Europe even though at this point we are not solvent. That is what comes with being a member of this club - we either want in or we don’t.

Most other countries didn’t get a choice about Lisbon - it was simply ratified. Ireland has a more democratic style than some countries and this is of course to be welcomed. But because we know little about the day-to-day running of Europe we are worried about what we are getting ourselves into. However, if we look back through our history there are very few times when Europe has been ‘bad’ for Ireland and we have to trust this record and believe that there is little reason for this to now change.

We are a small country and in these times of global sectarian conflict, we need to know that we are protected too. There is no point being a lovely green emerald isle if we are going to be blown off the face of the earth because we have no army to speak of and no protection from larger, stronger forces. Ireland will retain its ‘Irishness’ where it matters and no treaty will change that. We are inherently Irish and our roots are deeply set here on this beautiful, quirky island that we call home. I challenge any European boss to attempt to change us - they would have some fight!

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