Brilliant anti-Nice slogan

Biffa Bacon

Yesterday the No to Nice crowd unveiled their new slogan: "A second chance to become second class". I'm going to be voting Yes but that has to be one of the best campaign slogans I've ever heard anywhere. Certainly the best in an Irish context, if not internationally. I really think it could be a winner for them.

I've always thought people shouldn't bother thinking up campaign slogans as they are invariably ****e and just patronise the electorate - "Vision with purpose" anyone? - but this one's made me change my mind.

gandalf

Thats a very strong slogan that gets the message across very effectively. And I think its far more accurate that the ones they used last time.

Gandalf.

dathi1

EU IMMIGRANTS WELCOME ON AN EQUAL BASIS . . .

PROFESSOR PAUL BEW'S WARNING OF POSSIBLE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON THE
NORTH-SOUTH BORDER

(See transcript of RTE interview with Professor Bew, and text of Foreign
Minister Brian Cowen's letter below)


The National Platform welcomes the statements of Sinn Fein, the Green
Party, the Socialist Party and others on the question of the right of free
movement of labour being extended BY ALL EU STATES to the 75 million
citizens of the 10 East European Applicant countries from Day One of their
accession to the EU.

All groups on the No-side in the Nice Treaty Re-run support the enlargement
of the EU on the basis of equal rights for all citizens.

However, the facts are that all the big EU States, Britain, Germany,
France, etc. have indicated that, because of fear of distabilization of
their labour markets, they will operate a transition period of up to 7
years. Are they guilty of "xenophobia" for this? Ireland is the only
country whose Foreign Minister, Mr Brian Cowen, has written personally to
each Applicant State government stating that their citizens will have the
right to live and work in Ireland without work permits from the day their
Accession Treaties come into force, expected to be January 2004. (v. text
of Foreign Minister Cowen's letter below)

This unilateral action on Ireland's behalf should have been discussed in
the Dail, and the whole question of how to accommodate East European
immigrants should have been raised in public. The National Platform
maintains that this was an irresponsible and reckless action on Mr Cowen's
part.

Professor Paul Bew of Queen's University Belfast and an adviser to Mr David
Trimble, drew attention on RTE News last night to some of the implications
of the Republic being used as an immigration funnel for access to the UK
and the rest of the EU, when he said that this could lead to the
reimposition of travel restrictions reminiscent of the war-time 1940s on
the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland, and between here and
Britain.(v.text of RTE news bulletin below)

The negotiations with the EU Applicants are ongoing and expected to be
completed in December. There is still time for the Government to use its
influence in the EU to insist that the 10 Accession Treaties to be signed
by the EU collectively should embody the principle of equality for all.

The 15 doors to the EU should be all open together, or else they should be
opened simultaneously.

In light of the statements of the Green Party, Sinn Fein, and the Socialist
Party, we urge them to pressurise the Government to box above its weight in
Europe and get a fair deal on this matter for the new Applicant countries
in their Accession Treaties.

The terms of accession of Applicant country citizens regarding free
movement in the EU have nothing to do with the Treaty of Nice, but are
clearly relevant to any consideration of the costs and benefits of EU
enlargement, and how this might affect Ireland.

There needs to be an honest and open debate on this, which the Government
is seeking desperately to avoid by throwing abuse at people who raise
awkward questions and misrepresenting them as xenophobes and racists.

Signed:

Anthony Coughlan

Secretary
Tels: 6081898 / 8305792

strawberry

I haven't been in Ireland in a while so excuse any misinformation on my part,
Brian Cowen wants to open our borders to all new EU states from day one?

I can only imagine that this would discourage undecided voters who worry about the country being 'flooded' with foreigners from voting yes in the Nice Treaty. Another no vote would mean a long delay in enlargement right?

So is Mr. Cowen being really humanitarian and stupid?
Or is he being really clever and evil?

gurramok

The immigrant thing about opening borders to the 10 countries while the bigger countries close theirs is fact, its just that it has not been publicised by the gov, we wonder why :rolleyes:
Another reason for voting no this time.

strawberry

And so...Mr Cowen's plots begin to work their magic.