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31/01/2012
Fianna Fail Take Legal Advice Over EU Treaty
Fianna Fail have announced they will be taking legal advice over the signing of the EU treaty as it was not signed by all members.
In a statement by the party's leader, Micheál Martin called on the Taoiseach to immediately publish whatever work he consulted on the impact of the Treaty’s provisions and the legal advice that he relied upon before agreeing to sign it.
Mr Martin said: "If, as it appears, the amended text requires Ireland to adopt fiscal controls which cannot be amended during the budget process this can only be done through the constitution.
"We will be seeking our own legal advice on the text, but our position remains that the people must be consulted on any significant change to our position in Europe."
A number of Opposition parties, including Sinn Fein, said they may take a legal challenge against the Government if it decides not to hold a referendum on the new European treaty.
The Government asked Attorney General Máire Whelan to prepare formal legal advice on whether a referendum is required to ratify the fiscal treaty agreed by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels last night.
"It is a major concern that this is the first time in the history of the Union that a treaty is not being signed by all of its members," Mr Martin said. He added: "A new effort should be undertaken to achieve unanimity before the scheduled signing of the Treaty in the Spring."
(DW)
In a statement by the party's leader, Micheál Martin called on the Taoiseach to immediately publish whatever work he consulted on the impact of the Treaty’s provisions and the legal advice that he relied upon before agreeing to sign it.
Mr Martin said: "If, as it appears, the amended text requires Ireland to adopt fiscal controls which cannot be amended during the budget process this can only be done through the constitution.
"We will be seeking our own legal advice on the text, but our position remains that the people must be consulted on any significant change to our position in Europe."
A number of Opposition parties, including Sinn Fein, said they may take a legal challenge against the Government if it decides not to hold a referendum on the new European treaty.
The Government asked Attorney General Máire Whelan to prepare formal legal advice on whether a referendum is required to ratify the fiscal treaty agreed by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels last night.
"It is a major concern that this is the first time in the history of the Union that a treaty is not being signed by all of its members," Mr Martin said. He added: "A new effort should be undertaken to achieve unanimity before the scheduled signing of the Treaty in the Spring."
(DW)
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