socmot
New Member
My point is, that Ireland is the exception as it's the only country that is obliged to have a referendum.
And this is my problem.
Of course other countries have the option to hold referenda if they want to but they are not legally required to.
Again, this is my problem.
That is why I think the whole issue about "Why other countries aren't allowed to vote" is kind of irrelevant.
It has led to a democratic deficit. Why were other countries holding referenda on the EU Constitution but not now?
Again, it has nothing to do with content of the Lisbon Treaty. It is a separate debate which the people in the other EU countries need to have for themselves (& arguably should have had long before now).
I can't agree with this at all. I take this position because I have a fundamental problem with allowing my state to ratify a Treaty that the citizens of no other EU country have not had a direct say on. It is fundamentally connected to the Treaty.
On another separate issue, I think the main reason Referenda usually happen is so governments can avoid making decisions on highly emotive issues like abortion & divorce.
I disagree. Referenda happen because countries are required to have one when altering the basic governing document of their country, because that basic governing document (ie, a Constitution) contains the fundamental elements that comprise their nation. An Irish example would be the Bail Referendum held here in Ireland in the 1990's - we might be having another one next year; the reason we have a referendum on this matter is because it pertains to issues surrounding personal liberty - a fundamental element of the governing of our country.
And this is my problem.
Of course other countries have the option to hold referenda if they want to but they are not legally required to.
Again, this is my problem.
That is why I think the whole issue about "Why other countries aren't allowed to vote" is kind of irrelevant.
It has led to a democratic deficit. Why were other countries holding referenda on the EU Constitution but not now?
Again, it has nothing to do with content of the Lisbon Treaty. It is a separate debate which the people in the other EU countries need to have for themselves (& arguably should have had long before now).
I can't agree with this at all. I take this position because I have a fundamental problem with allowing my state to ratify a Treaty that the citizens of no other EU country have not had a direct say on. It is fundamentally connected to the Treaty.
On another separate issue, I think the main reason Referenda usually happen is so governments can avoid making decisions on highly emotive issues like abortion & divorce.
I disagree. Referenda happen because countries are required to have one when altering the basic governing document of their country, because that basic governing document (ie, a Constitution) contains the fundamental elements that comprise their nation. An Irish example would be the Bail Referendum held here in Ireland in the 1990's - we might be having another one next year; the reason we have a referendum on this matter is because it pertains to issues surrounding personal liberty - a fundamental element of the governing of our country.