The Lisbon Treaty:

= gives exclusive competence to Brussels over International Trade & Foreign Direct Investment (Article 206/207 TFEU) (treaty on the functioning of the European Union)

= halves Ireland's voting weight while doubling that of Germany (Article 238 TFEU)
During Lisbon Treaty negotiations, our government sought but failed to keep the current voting system negotiated under the Nice Treaty because they know our voice is diminished under Lisbon.

= opens the door to interference in tax & other key economic interests (Article 113 TFEU)

= creates an unelected President & a Foreign Minister of Europe (Article 27 TEU) (Treaty on the European Union)

= hands over power in 60 areas of policy to Brussels - on everything from transport to employment and some aspects of foreign policy

= enshrines EU law as superior to Irish law.

= THE TREATY CAN BE CHANGED WITHOUT ANY REFORENDUM (Article 352 TFEU, Article 48 TEU)

= Diminishes Ireland's power to nominate our European Commisioner !!!
Changes from 'NOMINATE' to 'SUGGEST' !!!!

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Wall Street Journal, 16th September 2009: "Mr. Lenihan is peddling phantom terrors to scare the Irish people into voting Yes... Preying on... fears, in fact, seems to be the chief strategy of the Yes campaign." "No sane businessman is going to mistake a No vote on Lisbon with a decision to pull out of Europe"


FACTS, NOT POLITICS - STRAIGHT ANSWERS TO CRITICAL QUESTIONS


HOW WILL LISBON AFFECT OUR ECONOMY?

The Lisbon Treaty will allow the EU to harmonise national indirect TAXES such as VAT. (Article 113 TFEU, protocol 27 on the internal market and competition)
The Lisbon Treaty will allow the EU to impose fines and other sanctions on Ireland relating to the nation's management of our budget deficit and budgetary policy (Article 126 TFEU). Ireland's current public sector deficit stands at 12% of GDP. The EU target is 3%. This leaves us open to the possibility of having vast fines imposed on us. These rules are clearly designed for the benefit of the LARGER EU ECONOMIES not smaller states like Ireland. The Lisbon Treaty will give the EU decision making power over foreign direct investment (Article 207 TFEU). This has been a vital source of jobs for Ireland.

HOW WILL LISBON AFFECT IRELAND'S TAX AFFAIRS?

Ireland's tax advantages can be undermined via EU jurisdiction on matters of competition and in the interests of 'harmonisation'. Veto-proof destination taxes could also be applied via Lisbon's enhanced co-operation provision, neutralising our tax advantages. Furthermore, changes could be made to our tax status without the need for a further referendum.
When the government says that Lisbon protects Ireland's veto on tax, they don't tell you that the veto can be given away under Article 48 of the Treaty or under the 'flexibility clause in Article 352 and that you don't have to be asked to agree to these changes in a referendum. Do you trust our politicians that much???

WHAT EFFECT WILL LISBON HAVE ON YOUR FINANCES?

The fall-out from the property crash in Ireland has placed a strain on everybody's pockets. We're seeing cuts in welfare, grants and public services. This is likely to continue.
Under Lisbon, the EU will gain the ability to impose its own EU-wide taxes on us. (Article 311 TFEU) That means that you could end up handing over money directly in taxes to Brussels, without need for a further referendum. You're not being told about that now, but if you vote Yes and then wonder why your taxes increase, you'll be told: "we voted for that under Lisbon".
In his book New Age of Empires (200 Guy Verhofstadt, former Belgian Prime Minister, rising star in the EU and currently head of the ALDE grouping in the European Parliament, has proposed that the funding for the

The Lineup


FRIDAY 11TH JULY 08:

Main Stage:

Kings of Leon,
Interpol,
Editors,
The Coronas,
Paddy Casey
and Amy Macdonald.

O2 Stage:

Groove Armada,
Future Kings of Spain,
dEUS,
The Go! Team,
Ben Folds
and Sugababes.

Green Room:

Bell X1,
Mundy,
Aslan
and Captain.

Pet Sounds:

Battles,
Aphex Twin,
Cat Power,
Tricky
and God Is An Astronaut.

New Band Stage/Futures:

White Denim,
Friendly Fires,
The Metros,
Noah & The Whale,
Sparkadia,
Bryn Christopher,
Liam Finn
and Leopold.

Dance Stage:

Unkle,
Annie Mac,
Koze,
Calvin Harris,
MSTRKRFT,
Kosheen
and Burn.


SATURDAY 12TH JULY 08:

Main Stage:

Counting Crows,
Newton Faulkner,
The Verve,
R.E.M.,
Stereophonics,
Scouting For Girls,
Amy Winehouse
and Bowling For Soup.

O2 Stage:

The Prodigy,
Panic at the Disco,
Feeder,
One Night Only,
The Zutons,
Little Man Tate,
The Wombats,
The Enemy,
Powderfinger
and The Hoosiers.

Green Room:

The Charlatans,
Pendulum,
Manic Street Preachers,
Concerto For Constantine,
The Brian Jonestown Massacre,
Echo and the Bunnymen,
Vampire Weekend,
British Sea Power,
The Ting Tings
and Delays.

Pet Sounds:

Hot Chip,
Seasick Steve,
The National,
Declan O’Rourke,
Paul Heaton,
My Morning Jacket,
Camille O’Sullivan,
Jack McManus
and Richard Hawley.

New Band Stage/Futures:

Alphabeat,
Elliot Minor,
Royworld,
Joe Lean and The Jing Jang Jong,
Black Kids,
Ida Maria,
Yeasayer,
Holy Fuck,
Mindless Self Indulgence,
Cage The Elephant
and Sergeant.

Dance Tent:

Justice,
Boys Noize,
Slam,
Michael Mayer,
Kavinsky,
The Japanese Popstars
and Chemistry DJ’s.

IMRO New Sounds Stage

Blood Red Shoes,
Codes,
Gary Go,
Oppenheimer,
Sons Of Albion,
New Amusement,
The Golden Silvers,
The Cades,
The Red Labels
and Future Chaser.


SUNDAY 13TH JULY 08:

Main Stage:

Rage Against The Machine,
The Fratellis,
The Kooks,
Eddy Grant,
The Feeling,
The Blizzards
and Kaiser Chiefs.

O2 Stage:

Chemical Brothers,
The Courteeners,
The Pigeon Detectives,
The Raconteurs,
Republic Of Loose,
Kate Nash,
We Are Scientists
and The Subways.

Green Room:

Ian Brown,
Alabama 3,
The Pogues,
Reverend and the Makers,
Tom Baxter,
Jack Penate,
The Stranglers,
The Hold Steady
and The Whigs.

Pet Sounds:

MGMT,
Delorentos,
The Swell Season featuring Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová,
Roisin Murphy,
Band of Horses,
Lightspeed Champion,
David Jordan
and Ryan Bingham.

New Band Stage/Futures:

Los Campesinos!,
Cajun Dance Party,
Flogging Molly,
Fight Like Apes,
Glasvegas,
The Script,
Twisted Wheel,
In Case Of Fire,
Jaguar Love
and White Lies.

Dance Tent:

Kaz James,
Crookers,
Does It Offend You Yeah?,
Radioslave,
David Guetta,
Luciano,
Mylo,
Carl Craig
and Quiet Village.

IMRO New Sounds Stage

Dry County,
Team Waterpolo,
Halves,
Crayonsmith,
The Rocket Summer,
Brothers Movement,
The Hazy Janes,
Fighting With Wire,
Arno Carstens
and The Television Room.

I thought you might like to see my favourite
fruitcake receipe....

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups dried fruit
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
lemon juice
nuts
1 gallon whiskey

Sample the whiskey to check for quality. Take a large bowl.
Check the whiskey again to be sure it is of the highest quality.
Pour one level cup and drink.
Repeat.
Turn on the electric mixer; beat 1 cup butter in a large, fluffy bowl.
Add 1 teaspoon sugar and beat again.
Make sure the whiskey is still OK. Cry another tup. Turn off mixer.
Break 2 legs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.
Mix on the turner.
If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a
drewscriver.
Sample the whiskey to check for tonsisticity.
Next, sift 2 cups of salt. Or something. Who cares? Check the whiskey.
Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon. Of
sugar or something. Whatever you can find.
Grease the oven.
Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees.
Don't forget to beat off the turner.
Throw the bowl out of the window.
Check the whiskey again.

Go to bed.
Who the hell likes fruitcake anyway?