OPINION: Ireland will be a neutral force for good in Europe

ONE of the many bogus arguments being put forward by those opposed to the Nice Treaty is that it represents a threat to our tradition of neutrality and will drag us into a European super army.

This is the same bogus argument that has been put up by opponents of the EU for 30 years now, and each time it has been shown to be without any foundation whatsoever.

A YES vote on October 19 would have no impact on our traditional stance. The leaders of the EU states agreed when they met in Seville, Spain, to recognise our position and re-assure us that it is not under threat.

They assured us that Ireland is not part of any military alliance, is not going to be dragged into a European Army and that whether our troops take part in tasks abroad will remain a decision that will be taken by our own Government.

Many of those who say our neutrality is under threat are the same people who would have us believe that every western jet on a bombing mission is stopping off at Shannon. We have already seen them trying to twist the routine arrival and departure of 737s carrying un-armed troops into something it clearly is not.

We have heard and read a lot about the Rapid Reaction Force. Despite the scaremongering of the NO campaigners the Force is not a Euro Army. It will respond to international disasters as they arise.

We have opted to make our forces available on a case-by-case basis. Are the NO camp seriously arguing that if the EU is responding to famine, floods or another international emergencies that our forces should remain in their barracks at home?

It should also be pointed out that Irish Forces can only be used if the operation has been given the go-ahead by the United Nations, has the approval of the Government and has been backed by the Dail.

This provides a triple lock and no Irish soldier can become involved in EU operations unless all three parts of the lock have been turned.

Those who spread the myth about the threat to Irish Neutrality are also those who spread the bogus claims about a European super state.

Let me make it crystal clear... There is no plan for a super state.

Those within the EU who come out in support of a Federal, or super state, Europe are very much in the minority.

If anything Nice makes clear that the main power remains with the individual member states.

Opponents have also been playing the race card - they speak of an influx of people from Eastern and Central Europe.

We have heard these alarmist claims before, yet enlargements have happened before and there has been no change in the balance of the labour market, either here or in other parts of Europe.

The NO camp have put out these and many other red-herrings because they have no response to the powerful economic arguments as to why we should vote YES on October 19.

WHEN we vote YES Irish companies will be given access to countries comprising more than 100 million customers. More Irish firms will enter these new markets and will reap the benefits of the new opportunities.

Already we have seen how our participation in the EU and the access we have to a market of 380 million citizens has improved living standards here.

Remember when we first joined the EU our pay packets were just 60 per cent of the European average, now we are above the average. The fact that we are part of the enlarged EU will add to our attractiveness for outside investment.

One-in-six of us are currently in jobs that depend on such investment - imagine how competing nations would use a NO vote to attract business out of Ireland.

As we consider how we will vote on the 19th we should also not forget the benefits the EU has brought to other areas of our lives.

It was directives from Europe that brought in equal pay for equal work, equal treatment for women and men in employment and in social security payments. We must ask do we want to deny the applicant states the same benefits we have enjoyed?

Do we want to turn our back on those countries that look to Ireland as a role model?

Do we want to send a message to our EU partners that we are no longer committed to the EU ideal? This is the most important vote we will take in 30 years.

You can sit back and be taken in by the scaremongering about neutrality, about immigration and about super armies that no-one is planning - or you can vote to ensure we continue to enjoy the social, economic and political benefits of being at the centre of a peaceful Europe.

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