Dana Rosemary Scallon (pictured), the pro-life former MEP, has just issued the following statement, "Don't be afraid to vote no says Dana", regarding Friday's vote in Ireland on the Lisbon treaty:"I am not afraid to vote No to Lisbon, said Dana Rosemary Scallon today. The people must know the truth, that the guarantees are worthless and that the EU will have primacy over Ireland's Constitution. Lisbon is not about tidying up the democratic process - it is about tying up the democratic process.Ireland For Life has also just issued a statement making similar points to those made by Dana.
"As former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing stated, when he welcomed the Lisbon Treaty wording: 'Public opinion will be led - without knowing it - to adopt the policies we would never present to them directly. All the earlier proposals will be in the new text - but will be hidden or disguised in some way.'
"I cannot be bought. I have always told the truth about what I saw happening in Europe, especially when it threatened our Constitution and our democratic rights as citizens of Ireland. I have no axe to grind, I am not seeking political office and as I don't run a budget airline I don't have to tread carefully and change my mind for the sake of a few euros.
"During my time in office from 1999-2004, the building of an EU Constitution and the move towards an EU Superstate was clearly set out. I stated this publicly many times and urged our political leaders and public representatives to uphold our Irish Constitution - they all refused to do so.
"A simple name change will not change the fact that adopting the Lisbon Treaty will undermine our sovereignty and political independence and profoundly weaken Ireland's position in Europe and is the path to a European Constitution, having primacy over Ireland's Constitution.
"Former Irish Taoiseach, Dr Garett Fitzgerald also stated on June 30, 2007, that proposed changes to the Constitutional Treaty 'had no practical effect. They have simply been designed to enable certain heads of government to sell to their people the idea of ratification by parliamentary action rather than by referendum.' Chancellor Merkel of Germany and Jose Zapatero, Prime minister of Spain confirmed that 'The substance of the constitution is preserved' and that 'not a single substantial point' of the constitutional Treaty has been let go. Even former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern noted that there had been 'no dramatic change to the substance of what had been agreed in 2004'.
"We have already rejected this Lisbon Treaty and in response our political leaders apologised to Brussels.
"The Lisbon Treaty will give the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights primacy and a legally binding status. The fact is that in the case of conflict between the rights contained in the EU Charter and those rights contained in our Irish constitution, the Lisbon Treaty will give the final say to the EU Court of Justice over our Irish Supreme Court.
"Voting NO will protect Ireland's Constitution in matters such as the definition and protection of the family; Children's rights; Parent's rights; the protection of life and the child embryo; the right to a fair trial; the right to strike etc. Any so-called 'guarantees' and protection of our Irish Constitutional position on these points are not part of the Lisbon Treaty, they therefore have no legal weight what-so-ever and cannot be relied upon. They are, as we have been told many times, worthless.
"This is no longer about the politics of right and left, it is about right and wrong. I can no longer stay silent about the wilful betrayal of Ireland's Constitution.
"Just as in Article 12.8 of Ireland's Constitution the President states 'In the presence of Almighty God I do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold its laws, that I will fulfil my duties faithfully and conscientiously in accordance with the Constitution...."; Article 9.2 calls upon everyone stating: "Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the state are fundamental political duties of all citizens".
"People should not be afraid to vote no, proclaim loyalty to the State and fidelity to the nation. Our Constitution should be upheld not diluted for political and personal gain.
"Many decent members of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens know that the parties are not listening to their grass roots. The electorate know in their hearts that the democratic will of the people is being ignored. As a nation we cannot return to the years of the begging bowl. All of Europe is waiting for the Irish people to once again defend, speak up for and protect those who have no voice. Only the people can protect democracy and people must not be afraid to vote NO."
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