Exclusive interview on Article 133 of Nice Treaty with Brian Lenihan conducted in UCD today.

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday September 24, 2002 15:42 by IMC RR

Read and weep. Thought FF wanted us to understand what NICE is about

(THE SCENE / FOYER OF A UCD ARTS ANNEX / BRIAN LENIHAN HAS TO BE HELPED BY THE GARDAI THROUGH A 50-60 STRONG BUNCH OF STUDENTS BLOCADING THE ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING HE IS ENTERING. HE IS IN UCDTO OPEN THE NEW FIANNA FAIL ARCHIVE/ HE IS SURROUNDED BY THE MEDIA WHEN HE FINALLY MAKES IT INTO THE FOYER AND THEY QUIZ HIM ON VARIOUS EDUCATION ISSUES AND WHY CHARLIE MC CREEVY DID NOT MAKE AN EXPECTED APPEARANCE / AN IMC JOURNALIST WITH A CAMERA IS PRESENT AND DECIDES TO ASK A QUESTION. HERE IS A TRANSCRIPT HOT OFF THE PRESSES BROUGHT TO YOU ON THE HUSH HUSH STRICTLY QT.

Brian Lenihan: Are you televising me as I speak

IMC Roving Reporter: I am yeah!

Brian Lenihan: Have you a journalists card?

IMC RR: I'm with Indymedia

Brian Lenihan: Yeah. Is this for broadcasting in a particular place?

IMC RR: It might be!

Brian Lenihan: Yeah. What I'm telling you is I will do my best, as the Government will, to protect your interests.

IMC RR: (Referring to reintroduction of student fees etc) You can't guarantee me?

BL: Of course I can't guarantee you this morning what will happen. All that I can guarantee is that I'll do my best.

IMC RR: Why did Mr. McCreevy not come here today?

BL: Mr. McCreevy had another appointment to do some time ago. It wasn't something that suddenly emerged this morning. We opened a new Fianna Fail Archive here this morning as well. That's what I was asked to do.

IMC RR: Do you understand why all these students are here and why they are protesting?

BL: Well first of all I know that there's 20000 students in UCD. There's a very small number of them here. And I think it is obvious too from some of the posters and some of the references in them that they're politically motivated.

IMC RR: Isn't that a good thing?

BL: There's references to the NICE Treaty for example.

POSTER BEING HELD BY UNKNOWN STUDENT AGAINST WINDOW FACING BL: "Charlie! No more lies! What is Art. 133 of the Nice Treaty."

IMC RR: And on that reference to the NICE Treaty - What do you think about that?

BL: Well I think it is a very important issue for Ireland. The eyes of Europe are now looking at us. We have already damaged ourselves enormously in the eyes of the World by our rejection of the people of Eastern Europe. Many of those opposing of course subscribe to the old Communist Ideology - and to those people who controlled them for so long.

IMC RR: Minister, Can I ask you about Article 133?

BL: What is in Article 133?

IMC RR: What is in Article 133?

BL: You asked me a question - what is in Article 133?

IMC RR: I'm asking you what is article 133?

BL: You tell me what is in Article 133?

IMC RR: I'm asking you Minister

BL: I'm not dealing with it here this morning. I'm not here to discuss it. I've read every article in the Nice Treaty.

IMC RR: Can you explain Article 133?

BL: You show me the text and I'll explain it to you.

IMC RR: Minister can you tell me what Article 133 is and how we will be affected and what GATS means with regard to the NICE treaty?

BL: Sorry, excuse me, I really have to go now. I'll tell you one thing though I belive about Nice. Our future is with Europe.

(BL WALKS OFF)

IMC RR: Will you tell me about article 133 Minister?

(BL KEEPS WALKING)

IMC RR: (Shouts after him) You're a fucking liar! Minister! Why can you not tell me about article 133?

(BL COMES BACK TO THE IMC RR)

BL: Really you should learn a little bit of manners in your profession. Unfortunately you're unworthy of your profession.

IMC RR: Minister you are avoiding the Question. Why are you evading the question?

BL: You should Learn the manner and courtesy of your profession.

IMC RR: What is article 133 minister? You don't know what article 133 is?

(BL WALKS OUT OF FOYER)

IMC RR MAKES A HASTY EXIT AS A NUMBER OF UNIDENTIFIED MIDDLE AGED MEN IN SUITS OBSERVE THESE GOINGS ON WITH GROWING INTEREST AND CONCERN.

ALL OF THIS EXCHANGE WAS FILMED BY RTE AND TV3 AS IT TOOK PLACE. IT IS NOT - I REPEAT - IT IS NOT A SKIT. USE CONTACT FORM ON THIS SITE IF ANY OF YOU OUT THERE NEED A COPY OF THE FOOTAGE.