No U-turn On Lisbon Opposition Says Adams

The Sinn Féin President has alluded to a reinvigorated opposition to the Lisbon Treaty.

Gerry Adam's comments come as the Government's latest campaign to secure support for the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty to take place this year got underway today.

Mr Adams said a formal decision on their stance would be made at meeting next week but a u-turn on their opposition to the EU reform package was unlikely.

"Given that it's exactly the same treaty and the Government has not obeyed the mandate of the electorate, we will be about trying to garner support for a new treaty," he said.

However, Fianna Fail MEP Brian Crowley has leapt to the defence of the Treaty, saying that the ratification of the Treaty would ensure the European Union will be able to tackle organised crime and illegal international drug trafficking in a more determined and structured manner.

Mr Crowley said: "Organised crime is international by nature and the European Union has to work more closely with other countries around the world if we are to effectively tackle the scourge of illegal drug trafficking."

Responding to accusations that last year's failure to win a 'Yes' vote from the Irish people was due in part to over emphasised coverage of the 'No' campaign, Pat the Cope Gallagher revealed the Government's new strategy.

The Cope said: "The 'Yes' campaign on this occasion must spend it's time on radio and on TV explaining that we now have a new basis on which to ask the Irish people to ratify the Lisbon Treaty."

He added: "The legal guarantees clearly show that the Lisbon Treaty does not affect Irish taxation policy or Irish neutrality and nor does the Lisbon Treaty affect the protections in the Irish constitution concerning the right to life, education and the family."

(DW/BMcc)