10 METRO Thursday, September 24, 2009 D Lies on both sides? No campaigner: Joe Higgins I want to point out the big issue in relation to the Lisbon Treaty that seems to be swept under the carpet in this debate Ireland is losing its voting power if the Treaty is ratified. Decisions in the EU are made based on qualified majority, the definition of which is changed by this Treaty. Currently, weighted majority voting is used, which gives Ireland seven votes out of the total of 345 votes which is two per cent of all votes. Under the Lisbon Treaty voting is based on population size, hugely advantaging big EU States at the expense of small states like Ireland. If it is ratified then our voting power will be reduced from two per cent to 0.89 per cent, while Germanys voting power will increase from 8.4 per cent to 16.4 per cent, France from 8.4 per cent to 12.9 per cent, UK from 8.4 per cent to 13.3 per cent. Please do not take me wrong as I am actually pro-Europe but I do not think this Treaty is beneficial for Ireland. Natalia, by e-mail Ita, I was born in 1987 and am also a student of politics (and history). I believe in the expansion of EU powers. But they are not perfect. Ireland was fined a few years ago for having an inflationary budget, but when Germany had an inflationary budget the rules were changed to avoid fining them. There are, of course, plenty of lies on both sides. This thing about neutrality, for instance. The Lisbon Treaty doesnt affect our neutrality because were not neutral. Its not in our constitution, as many seem to think it is, and we dont exercise neutrality, as evidenced by our support of the US military. Bee is right, the No campaign are being marginalised by the media, particularly the sensible elements of the No side. Ive watched several RT interviews where Joe Higgins kept being cut off before he could elaborate properly on his issues with the Treaty. Meatball, by e-mail Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Dogs in distress: To Paige and Heather, have you ever tried www. dogsindistress.ie? They work to help the dogs from Ashton Pound. 16, 546 mainly healthy dogs were put to sleep in Ireland in 2005. Stray dogs are kept at the pounds for five days to allow owners to find them, but many are not traced within the short time given. You may be able to foster a pup and get him off deathrow while awaiting for the adoption process to be finalised. Dee, Dublin Poster politics: Ita, surely as a student of European Politics you would be a supporter of freedom of speech, would encourage healthy debate and not (as you said) condemn one side to the cold. Even if the reason we rejected the Treaty in the first election was lack of information, I still dont see how the We belong, Ireland needs Europe, and Yes for jobs posters are informing us on the Lisbon Treaty. Bee, by e-mail Thanks: Many thanks to the lovely 42b driver who was so kind to my 12-year-old son on Tuesday evening when he realised he was on the wrong bus and had no idea where he was. We really appreciate your help and that you took the time to help a young boy in a scary situation. Caroline, Swords In Brief Mary, I dont feel it wise to base ones vote on either sides campaign. We are privileged in this country to have the right to decide on such important matters, but with these rights comes a responsibility to our country to make an informed choice. I have read the revised Lisbon Treaty, and I suggest others intending to vote read an unbiased summary. The Referendum Commission have a site with just the facts, no spin. www.lisbontreaty2009.ie Brian Walsh, Dublin 2 As a non-Irish citizen I am disgusted at the way the Irish people are being pressured into ratifying the Lisbon Treaty. The Yes campaign is misleading the public by saying that if Ireland doesnt vote Yes the economy will suffer and jobs will be lost. The Treaty is about centralising power with views to the future political unification of Europe. If you are happy with this please vote Yes, but if not please make sure you know what you are agreeing to, because once you give your political independence away it will not be easy to get it back. European citizen, by e-mail Sendusyour txt Has anyone else seen the strange red lights floating over Dublin? What are they? Red light girl With the Dublin Bus crashes you only had to be on the North Wall Quay yesterday to see them speeding hardly able to stop at red lights. Mad drivers, what will it take to stop them speeding and where are the guards? Worried Were in a recession yet we are being told it is urgent that we get new postcodes. With a Government like this no wonder so many people are leaving. Peigi Ronnie, only people who havent educated themselves on Lisbon would vote Yes. Do some research and youll find every reason to vote No. Sorcha Is nobody else sick of hearing about what broke up Katie Price and Peter Andres marriage every day? Its over, long over, get over it! KE Ive heard Fianna Fil have finally come up with a plan to help the people of Ireland deal with those big long dole queues on our streets. Theyre going to widen the footpaths. Smudger txt MAIL to 53131* Two mating dragonflies are given a rude awakening by a crafty heron Patient: The cunning heron keeps perfectly still as the dragonflies perch on the end of his beak Pictures: Steve Wheeler Coitus interruptus: The heron strikes Eaten up by desireA PAIR of courting dragonflies had a nasty shock when the branch they chose to rest on turned out to be the beak of a hungry green heron. The crafty bird sat motionless before snatching the lovers out of the air. The female dragonfly met a sticky end as the bird devoured it but her mate fluttered off to live another day. It must have been a dream come true for the bird, said US photographer Steve Wheeler, 52, who took the snap on a river bank in Texas. He just opened his beak and snatched a dragonfly from right in front of him he was lightning fast and deadly accurate. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html