Sinn Féin & Lisbon – Letter to the Editor
The Editor, The Irish Times
(Published 22nd December 2008)
Madam, – In recent days we have been constantly lectured by Sinn Féin that, in relation to the Lisbon Treaty, the people have spoken and the outcome of that one previous referendum must be respected.
It is a pity that those same paragons of democracy could not – or, more accurately, would not – accept the outcome of every single general election and referendum in this Republic since the Anglo-Irish Treaty was endorsed by the Irish people through Dáil Éireann in 1922. Many thousands of lives could have been saved and billions of euro spent on legitimately fighting terrorism could have been spent on providing proper public services.
As someone involved in democratic politics for many years, I have won and lost battles. When I lose the battle for something that I believe is right I get back up and fight for it all over again. If, following the next referendum and subsequent negotiations we get a better result for Ireland, it is worth fighting for again.
Message to Sinn Féin and their extraordinary allies in Cóir and Libertas: that is called democracy. – Yours, etc,
Cllr DERMOT LACEY
