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DE RUEHDL #0030/01 0161346
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
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FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9708
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000030 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EI
SUBJECT: IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES IRISH RELATIONS WITH THE 
EU 
 
REF: 08 DUBLIN 696 AND PREVIOUS 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (SBU) Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin presented the 
Government of Ireland's annual State of the Union address to the 
Institute of International and European Affairs on January 15, 
focusing on Ireland's relationship with the European Union rather 
than the state of the EU itself.  Martin emphasized the importance 
of the EU to Ireland.  Saying that the Irish had not rejected Europe 
in defeating the Lisbon Treaty referendum in June 2008, and that the 
EU had offered legal guarantees to safeguard Irish concerns about 
the Treaty, Martin declared that it was "logical" to proceed with a 
second referendum.  Martin went on to sharply criticize the leaders 
of groups who campaigned against the Treaty in June 2008, labeling 
them as Eurosceptics who want to deny Ireland the benefits of EU 
membership.  Martin has essentially drawn battlelines for the second 
Lisbon Treaty referendum, expected towards the end of 2009.  If he 
leads a successful campaign for the Treaty in coming months, Martin 
could become the leading contender to succeed Brian Cowen as the 
next Prime Minister of Ireland.  End Summary. 
 
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The Irish Have Not Rejected Europe 
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¶2.  (U) Martin began his address by acknowledging that the people of 
Ireland had voted against the Lisbon Treaty by a margin of 53.4% to 
46.6% in a referendum in June 2008.  He went on to state that the 
government's position from the time of the vote was "one of full 
acceptance of the decision of the people."  However, he noted, "the 
factors underpinning [the rejection] were both complex and worthy of 
detailed examination and reflection," so as to clearly understand 
the concerns that had been expressed by the Irish people to the 
government and the EU.  Therefore, he said, the government was 
compelled to determine if the people's concerns "could be responded 
to in a manner acceptable to Ireland and to all 26 other Member 
States." 
 
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The EU is Critical to Ireland 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Martin went on to declare that "all available evidence 
confirms that there is a strong desire for Ireland to remain a 
central player in the European Union, and continue a tradition of 
punching above its weight.  It is my firm assessment that this 
cannot be fully ensured if we are unable to come to terms with our 
European partners on the future functioning of the Union.  This 
means that we must strive to resolve our difficulties concerning the 
Lisbon Treaty and facilitate its ratification." 
 
¶4.  (U) He pointed to recent evidence of the EU's capacity to make a 
difference for Ireland and the world, highlighting the key role of 
the EU in international efforts to deal with the global financial 
crisis, in leading the international community in climate change 
initiatives, and in dealing with the current gas supply crisis and 
other energy security issues in a unified manner.  He stated, "The 
Lisbon Treaty reflects our values and supports our interests.  A 
more efficient Union, a more democratic Union, a Union that supports 
workers' rights and the pro-competitiveness agenda, effective and 
well-defined security cooperation, and a strengthened role for 
national parliaments.  The Lisbon Treaty remains a very necessary 
adjustment of the Union's rules so as to allow a larger Union to act 
in an effective and accountable manner." 
 
¶5.  (U) Saying that the all-party parliamentary sub-committee on 
Ireland's future in the EU had conducted research, "heard and 
debated submissions from the full range of stakeholders, and 
produced a very impressive report," Martin declared that the 
government had fully determined the concerns of the people in 
rejecting the Lisbon Treaty.  These concerns, he said, had been 
communicated to the rest of the EU - who had worked with the Irish 
government in a "spirit of cooperation and openness that is 
characteristic of the Union" and had agreed to provide "firm and 
unambiguous legal guarantees" to safeguard Irish autonomies. 
 
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A Second Treaty Referendum is "Logical" 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Martin highlighted the EU's agreement to allow Ireland (and 
every other EU member state) to retain an EU Commissioner, stating 
that this represented a significant change to the Lisbon Treaty 
package voted on in June and a major concession to the concerns of 
the Irish people by the rest of the EU.  He also emphasized the EU's 
willingness to safeguard Ireland's policy of military neutrality, 
Ireland's ability to shape its own tax policy, and the provisions of 
the Irish Constitution on the right to life, education, and the 
 
DUBLIN 00000030  002 OF 002 
 
 
family (including anti-abortion statutes).  He noted that the Irish 
government had secured a re-commitment by the EU to the principles 
of workers' rights, social progress, and public services. 
 
¶7.  (U) In conclusion, Martin declared that when the EU makes good 
on its promises to safeguard Irish interests, "it makes perfect 
sense to consult the people again."  "The logical way forward is to 
put the Treaty to the people once more, in this new context," he 
said. 
 
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'No' Campaigners Criticized 
--------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) Martin went on to sharply criticize the leaders of groups 
who campaigned against Treaty in June 2008 and created a "morass of 
misinformation and eurosceptic phobias."  (Note:  The two principal 
groups opposing the Treaty were the political party Sinn Fein and 
the Libertas movement led by Declan Ganley.  End note.)  Attempting 
to preempt the arguments of these groups, Martin said, "As should be 
abundantly clear from their track records, such groups have an 
entirely negative vision of Ireland's position in Europe.  They see 
threats where there is opportunity.  They see interference where 
what's really happening is constructive cooperation.  They see an 
erosion of identity in a Union that in actual fact cherishes 
diversity." 
 
¶9.  (U) He declared that there would be very serious consequences if 
the Irish once again rejected the Lisbon Treaty after having secured 
EU guarantees on the issues of most concern to them.  He commented, 
"We have to recognize that our partners in Europe would not know 
what more they could have done to meet our concerns.  They might 
well come to the conclusion that there was nothing they could do. 
This would introduce a fundamental shadow of doubt over our 
commitment to the Union.  That is not what I want.  That is not what 
I believe the Irish people want." 
 
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Comment 
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¶10.  (SBU) In his address, Martin has essentially drawn battlelines 
for the second Lisbon Treaty referendum, expected towards the end of 
¶2009.  His position, in brief, is that the Irish did not reject 
Europe in June 2008, but rather rejected unacceptable elements of 
the Lisbon Treaty that have now been rectified.  There is therefore 
no longer any sensible reason to reject the Treaty, which is 
essential to ensure that the EU functions well and that Ireland 
retains its privileged place at the EU table (thereby safeguarding 
Irish economic, political, and social interests in Europe).  Those 
who continue to reject the Treaty are "Eurosceptics," who do not 
wish to see Ireland benefit from EU engagement.  If Martin leads a 
successful campaign for the Treaty in coming months, he could become 
the leading contender to succeed Brian Cowen as the next Prime 
Minister of Ireland.  End comment. 
 
Foley