Celtic League calls for 'no' to Nice

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday July 31, 2002 08:22 by MG

The Celtic League has criticised the Irish Government for refusing to acknowledge the result of last year’s referendum on the Nice Treaty.

Irish delegates at the league’s AGM in the Isle of Man described the Government’s refusal to accept last year’s vote as “an attack on democracy”.

The league subsequently adopted a resolution condemning the coalition’s attempt to overturn the vote and called on the Irish people to again reject the treaty.

In a statement, it said the Irish Government has displayed its contempt for the democratic wishes of its people and also the arrogance of elements within the EU hierarchy towards democratic expression.

Conradh Ceilteach, the Irish branch of the league, said it will renew its opposition to the treaty ahead of the next referendum.

The Celtic League is a lobby group which monitors human rights, civil liberties, politics and current affairs in the six Celtic countries.

The full text of its resolution read: “This AGM condemns the Irish Government for its refusal to acknowledge the outcome of the Nice referendum vote and its decision to have another referendum on exactly the same treaty. We call on the Irish people to reject this attack on democracy and on their Constitution and to vote ‘no’ to the Nice re-run.”