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Thursday January 01 1970

Siptu debate Lisbon with Jack O'Connor and Kieran Allen

national | eu | event notice

Wednesday September 23, 2009 11:33

by siptu-member

Jack O' Connor President of SIPTU versus Kieran Allen, President of SIPTU' s Education Branch Debate Lisbon Treaty, Liberty Hall, Dublin, 25th September 6pm.

SIPTU Debate on Lisbon, Liberty Hall, Dublin, 25th September 6pm.
Jack O' Connor President of SIPTU versus Kieran Allen, President of SIPTU' s Education Branch.

The leadership of the largest union in the country, SIPTU, has come out in favour of a Yes vote in Lisbon - but many of its grassroots members disagree.

The SIPTU President Jack O'Connor will debate the issue with Kieran Allen, the President of the Education Branch and editor of Voteno.ie who is also a member of the Socialist Workers Party.

The debate will take place on Friday 25th of September at 6pm in Liberty Hall in front of an audience of SIPTU activists and other concerned individuals.

During the first referendum the SIPTU leaders took a neutral stance in protest at the failure of the government to pass laws which guaranteed the rights of workers to collective bargaining.

Despite the fact that there has been no change in this stance, they have reversed their stance in a light of a Labour Party pledge to introduce such laws when in government.

Kieran Allen has publicly disagreed with this reversal.

'The union leaders did not consult their members on Lisbon - even though they had plenty of opportunity to do so. The reality is that Lisbon enshrines neo-liberal dogmas in the constitution of a new Europe. It promotes increased military spending which is detrimental to society. It does nothing to reverse the attacks on workers rights which the European Court of Justice has implemented. Despite the recommendation of the union leaders, the majority of the SIPTU grassroots will oppose the Treaty.

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Comments (1 of 1)

Will there be a Lisbon 3

by paul o toole

Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:28

1. The European Commmissin on workers rights is 'A political statement and is NOT legally binding'. This is written on the last page in small print on the govrrnments own publication.

2. Why should 1.2 million voters in Ireland decide the fate of 520 million of our European fellow citizens.....whats democratic about
this.

3. The BCI (Broadcasting comission of Ireland) stated that they do not need to enforce equal time to both sides of a debate relating to
Lisbon Treaty. All radio and TV appears to be pushing for a yes vote.....and there is a severe lack of opinion voiced from the No side
''''this is a new development..... Legalised Biased Reporting.
4. Tripple lock protection on neutrality is a joke. Ireland supplies 5 billion euro in parts to the arms trade. We facilitate illegal war in
Iraq. We support torture. None of this will change.

My own survey listening to radio shows an imbalance in radio time in favour of a yes vote at about 90%/10%....

The listeners are texting in at the rate of 10 to 1 in favour of a NO vote. This looks like there will be a lisbon 3...

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Siptu debate Lisbon with Jack O'Connor and Kieran Allen

Comments (1 of 1)