Archive for the 'F.A.' Category

A meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs (CFA) was thrown into disarray by Fine Gael TD, and apologist for Israeli military tactics in the Middle East, Alan Shatter.

The CFA was being addressed by ex-Irish Defence Forces officer Col Desmond Travers, a member of the UN Human Rights Council investigation committee responsible for The Goldstone report into Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Despite CFA members being given six days to read the report, Shatter waited till Travers was about to make his address before requesting a postponement, arguing that members were “busy enough without having to download and find such reports” and that Travers should be sent away for a week while members prepared themselves.

Even as Travers spoke in detail about Israeli atrocities perpetrated against defenceless civilian populations, Shatter tried to dominate proceedings by speaking longer than the 13 other members combined, claiming the Gladstone report failed to “give consideration to the difficulties” Israel faces in fighting “terrorist groups” among the civilian population and defended the use of ‘white phosphorous’ against women and children suggesting the effects of such weaponry had “not been understood prior to the Gaza conflict” (a point conflicted by several members of the committee due to extensive public debate on the use of white phosphorous after its deployment in Iraq by US forces several years ago).

Col Travers is set to appear before the committee again soon amid a re-emergence of demands to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement (Euromed), which gives special privileges to Israel in relation to access to EU markets. Specifically due to Israels violation of Article 2 of the Euromed agreement in relation to “respect for human rights and democratic principles” in both “internal and international policy”.

No doubt Alan Shatter will repeat his filibuster when Travers returns before the committee as he remains Israels most vehement apologist in the Oireachtas.

- K.C./F.A.

A Campaign of Fear

On Friday 2nd October 2009 the Irish people turned out to vote on the “28th Amendment to the Irish Constitution Bill” i.e. Treaty of Lisbon. It recorded the highest voter turnout on a European referendum since the original referendum on joining the EEC in 1972. The treaty was passed with a final margin of 67.1% ‘For’ to 32.9% ‘Opposed’ making it the highest ‘Yes’ vote in a referendum since The Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 with only 2 of the 43 constituencies rejecting the treaty.

Ratification of the treaty will further accelerate the European Unions transition towards a mercantile corporation granting Brussells greater powers with regard to Taxation, Immigration and Common Defence.

So why would the Irish people accept the same treaty that they previously rejected allowing the passage of harmful legislation that will erode national sovereignty, workers rights and lower the overall standard of living? . . . .

Fear!

The ‘Yes’ campaign made use of the current global economic uncertainty to exploit peoples fears and confusion claiming a ‘Yes’ vote was essential for Irelands economic recovery “A Yes vote will copper fasten our role as a key player in Europe and will enable the EU to get on with addressing huge challenges like protecting jobs across Europe; securing energy supplies and dealing with climate change”, ref; www.irelandforeurope.ie and stated a ‘No’ vote would result in an “immediate rise in the cost of borrowing to fund the exchequer.”

Campaigners placed emphasis on Irish neutrality guarantees that weren’t even under threat under Lisbon but avioded the issue that Ireland, like all member states, have to commit to an increase in their millitary capabilities on a national level with implications on common European defence.

Certain ‘Yes’ campaigners resort to histrionics such as ‘Irelands Future.ie’ who describe their website as a “Euro-Sceptic Free Zone” stating that “being pro-European you can only be pro-Lisbon” and that Euro-sceptecism “is dictatorship masquerading as the voice of the dispossessed”. Interesting considering forcing a second referendum on the same treaty in order to achieve a different outcome doesn’t exactly equate to democracy?

Its clear that Taoiseach Brian Cowen showed a flagrant dissregard for the democratic decision made by the Irish people in rejecting the previous Lisbon Treaty and highlights a worrying trend in Irish politics, first displayed with a 2nd referendum on the ‘Nice Treaty 2002′, that the Government place little stock in public opinion when it comes to making “the EU more effective and efficient”. – K.C. / F.A.