Republican News · Thursday 29 August 2002

Nice II unconstitutional - PANA

Feargus MacAogain and Roger Cole at the PANA press conference

The Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) has established an 'Article 6 Democracy Fund' to raise funds to take a legal case against the 26-County government, which it says is in breach of the Constitution.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin on Thursday, 22 August, Roger Cole and Feargus MacAogáin said that the Irish people "have already given their 'final' decision on the Nice Treaty". The 26-County government has illegally refused to accept the democratic will of the people after the first Nice Treaty referendum, they argue.

PANA says that if the Irish people are forced to vote again on exactly the same treaty, "the Irish elite is clearly stating that the people only have a right to vote if they vote yes. This is not Irish democracy."

PANA is opposed to the militarisation of the EU and seeks to establish a democratic EU with no military dimensions. It wants any new Treaty to include a protocol, similar to that already achieved by the Danish people, that would exclude Ireland from paying for, or from involvement with, the European Rapid Reaction Force.

Donations should be sent to; PANA, Article 6 Democracy Fund Account, 113 Springhill Ave, Co Dublin, Ireland.

Sinn Féin conference

Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD on Wednesday announced details of a Sinn Féin conference on the Nice Treaty in the Writers' Museum, Parnell Square, Dublin on Saturday 31 August. Attending the conference will be party activists from throughout Ireland and the agenda will cover the main issues of the Nice Treaty and the proactive campaign that the party will be running for the referendum.

Agenda

11am Opening Session Roger Cole (Peace and Neutrality Alliance) & Aengus Ó Snodaigh

11.30am Discussion group 1 - EU Institutions - democracy and accountability

12.10pm Discussion group 2 - Neutrality

12.50pm Feedback

2pm Discussion group 3 - Sovereignty

2.40pm Discussion group 4 - Issues raised by Yes campaign

3.20pm Feedback and questions and answers

3.50pm Closing Address by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD