What is the Lisbon Treaty?

It is a treaty that will introduce some changes to the existing two treaties that set out the rules by which the EU works (the EU and EC treaties) but it does not replace these treaties.

Why is it needed?

The main change Lisbon introduces is a reform of the law making process.  This is needed because the EU now has 27 members instead of the original 6 members. Some  other changes are needed to help the EU speak with a united voice internationally.

What are the changes?

The procedure for passing EU laws will be made more democratic by giving the European Parliament an equal say to the Member States when passing laws.  The voting rules used by the Member States when passing laws will also be changed but Ireland keeps its veto on key issues like tax and defence.

Lisbon will also:

·      Improve how the EU deals with external relations.

·      Give the EU a mandate to combat climate change.

·      Protect workers rights by giving the Charter of Fundamental Rights equal status to the treaties.

Lisbon does NOT

·      Change the minimum wage or promote lower pay.

·      Affect abortion, tax, neutrality or introduce an EU army or conscription – Ireland has secured legally binding guarantees on these points.

·      Affect the Irish State, Irish sovereignty, citizenship or the status of the Constitution – both the German and Czech Supreme Courts have confirmed this.

• Building our community with better housing and better use of City Council land  
• Making Dublin the Greenest city in Europe
• Working for a cleaner city in particular by managing the City Council’s resources more efficiently
• Improving public transport, parking for residents, better cycle lanes and and priority road use for buses and taxis in some areas

 More details on these initiatives may be seen on my campaign leaflet: david-geary-campaign-leaflet.pdf  To get elected I will need your No.1 vote on the 5th of June and I would be grateful for your support.  Thanks David 

Irish Times Report 20th April: VOLUNTEERS ON the banks of the Royal Canal in Dublin chose a great day to pick up litter on Saturday as the sunshine made a welcome return.

Temperatures of 17 degrees were reached in some locations, and Dublin enjoyed 13 hours of sunshine. Conditions on Sunday were similar and the mild weather is expected to continue for at least the next couple of days, Met Éireann has said.

The sunshine should encourage volunteers to take part in An Taisce’s National Spring Clean Week, which continues until next weekend.

As part of the annual clean-up, Green Party volunteers joined forces with local environmental group Canal Watch to tackle litter along a stretch of the canal from Cross Guns Bridge in Phibsboro to Binn’s Bridge in Drumcondra.

The stretch, once an eyesore and a no-go area, has been transformed in the last 10 years by the constant lobbying of Canal Watch, a voluntary residents’ group founded by local David Brock in 1996.

Lock gates were restored with the help of the Royal Canal Amenity Group and Waterways Ireland, jetties were built and the walks on either side of the canal were brought back to their original beauty. A seating area and a bronze statue of Brendan Behan complete what is one of the most pleasant waterside walks in the city. The group, which regularly clears litter and graffiti from the banks of the canal, is justifiably proud of its work. Mr Brock said they didn’t mind which political party came out for the clean-up.

“We’re just happy to have the help,” he said. (Photo thanks to the Irish Times - 20th April 2009.) 

I believe that Dublin’s North Inner City has the potential to be a model European city and I am working to make this happen.  Below is the text of a speech I gave at the Green Party Convention on the 6th of March.

“Dublin’s North Inner City has the potential to be a model European urban environment.  It is rich with architectural heritage, culture, and natural ameneties.

But the opporutnity of the Celtic Tiger years was squandered as soulless apartment blocks and tax breaks for banks were the measure of success.  

In the constituency at the very heart of the Celtic Tiger,  inequality and urban decay persist.

How can this be explained?

By a philosophy that sees an economy instead of a country, that sees individuals instead of a society, that believes in greed rather than green and trickle down instead of bottom up.

The North Inner City will never reach its potential while its people are left behind.

But it can reach its potential.  It can have:

·      Trees, green spaces and family friendly accomodation,

·      Streets that are safe and free from drugs and crime,

·      Local shops and markets on clean streets with clean air, and

·      Public transort that works.

This is the Green approach to success. The old model is broken – its time for change.”