Women Say NO to the Lisbon Treaty

The Campaign Against the EU Constitution held a press conference today to address the impact of the proposed Lisbon Treaty on the lives of women in Ireland.

A broad spectrum of campaigners from Health, trade Unions, mental health campaigners, councillors, academics, writers and community activists came together today to offer their vision of Europe and to challenge the neoliberal anti-woman and anti human agenda. Ailbhe Smuyth ably chaired a thorough and concise platform of speakers who addressed many parts of the treaty and how it is being sold to us. Rita Fagan of St Michaels Estate outlined the devastating consequences of privatisation on communities whose housing needs are not being provided for by market led policies. Bríd Smith, on behalf of Unite argued that because of the Laval case workers, in particular women swill not benefit when capital has more rights over people. Cathleen O Neill a veteran campaigner highlighted the neglect in particular within the health service while Maire O'Connor described the American health companies who have been caught as fraudsters in the States now swooping in on the galloping pace of health privatisation in Ireland. Sinead Kennedy noted how the Women for a yes vote at their press conference yesterday had rewritten womens history in Ireland and the EU claiming that the EU brought about positive change, neglecting the fact that women and men had campaigned and fought vigorously for equality, including many of those at the press conference. Catherine Connolly described reading the treaty, which costs €42 to buy, a reason in itself to vote no another commented, and how so much of it was vague except for the 20 pages on militarism which used phrases like 'we shall' rather than vague intentions which have no legal meaning when it came to other issues.

Chairing the press conference, Ailbhe Smyth said: “Women should not be bullied into saying Yes to Lisbon because ‘Europe has been good for us’. We are voting on the Lisbon Treaty, not on past benefits of EU membership, and Lisbon places the interests of the market, not people, at the heart of the European project.”
Lisbon would harm the interests of women in Ireland and throughout the EU in the following ways:
* It would accelerate the opening up of essential social services such as health and education to privatisation, with disastrous consequences for the welfare of families, and for women who are at the frontline as both users and workers.

Please go to http://www.caeuc.org/index.php?q=:
Signed
Cllr Joan Collins, Independent Socialist;
Mary Coughlan, singer;
Cllr Catherine Connolly, Independent;
Cllr Colette Connolly, Labour Party;
Cllr Ruth Coppinger, Socialist Party;
Therese Caherty, CAEUC;
Bairbre De Brun, SF MEP;
Cllr Clare Daly, Socialist Party;
Margaretta D'Arcy, writer / peace activist;
Lelia Doolan, film producer / director;
Rita Fagan, community activist;
Cllr Toireasa Ferris, SF;
Cllr Gráinne Mhic Géidigh, SF;
Sinead Kennedy, academic / VoteNo.ie;
Mary Lou McDonald, MEP;
Sandra McAvoy, teacher / women's rights activist;
Patricia McKenna, People's Movement;
Marie O'Connor, health analyst and writer;
Cathleen O'Neill educator and community activist;
Brid Smith, Unite.
Ailbhe Smyth,academic and People Before Profit;

Images (c)

Brid Smith, Unite

Rita Fagan, Community Activist St Michaels Estate

Therese Caherty and Cathleen O'Neill

Sinead Kennedy and Patricia McKenna

Maire O Connor

Cathleen Connolly, Councillor for Galway City leafing through her dog eared copy of the Lisbon Treaty

Louise Minihan, Sinn Féin Councillor