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Don´t forget that Sinn Fein opposed Nice as well.  This is the opening shot in a negotiation Sinn Fein do not have a mandate to take part in.  It sets the scene for their rejection of whatever Cowen comes back with.  Sinn Fein don´t want a success in this negotiation - they want a failure they can use as a stick to beat Cowen with at the next election - and a way forward to become the official opposition in Ireland.  They might well succed in this objective - as Fine Gael - and to an extent, labour, hardly have a raison détre anymore - they are but clinging on by force of historical memory that is rapidly fading.

gotta run - i,m on the move - sorry for hit and run comment.

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 at 05:30:43 AM EST
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Yes, they opposed Nice but they can't strike that one down.

I think the EU should implement the rules in the Treaty of nice that say that the EU will have less than 27 Commissioners by having 26 and not having an Irish one. After all, Ireland sent none other than Charlie McCreepy to Brussels... Better not give them the chance to outdo themselves... :-P

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 at 05:47:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]
McCreepy was dumped to Europe when he became unpopular in Ireland - because of his neo-lib tendencies.  Depriving Ireland of its European dumping ground would make the EU even more unpopular....

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Fri Jun 27th, 2008 at 01:43:41 PM EST
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