Lisbon or As Ireland prepares for the second

Bust
coming of the Lisbon referendum,
Jack Golden (Human Resources
Director. CRH) says that, this time,
there’s no going back.

We face one of the most important decisions
about the future direction of Ireland’s relationship
with Europe on October 2nd. The outcome of the
referendum will have an irreversible impact on
business, employment, and on the prosperity of
future generations in this country. This issue is vital
for Ireland’s future and it is important that leaders in
the Irish business community are strongly supporting
a 'Yes' vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
Europe has been good for business, good for jobs and
remains vital to our economy. Despite the current downturn we
have succeeded with the help of our EU partners in creating the
modern, prosperous society that we see around us – investing in
education, improving transport and communications networks,
increasing trade, updating our employment and competition
legislation and helping to protect the environment. Living
standards have improved significantly and approximately a
million new jobs have been created.
The Benefits for Ireland
There are two important grounds for supporting the Lisbon Treaty:
1. Ireland needs to remain at the heart of Europe to promote
job creation, business success and economic growth.
2. Ireland and Irish business will benefit from the proposed
changes in the treaty which make the EU institutions
more efficient.

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One of the key benefits of our central position in the EU has
been the gateway to the market we have provided for US
multinationals and increasingly now for companies from a wide
range of other countries outside the EU. Sixty per cent of
everything this island produces is sold to trading partners within
the EU’s single market. A vibrant, efficient and streamlined
European Union is vital for all of us whose livelihoods depend
one way or the other on this trade. Interestingly while other
sectors of the economy, especially retail and construction-
related activities, have suffered badly in this recession, exports
have held up rather well and we should do everything we can to
protect this vital sector of our economy.
Public Sector
The EU is equally important for our public sector. EU structural
and cohesion funds have helped to transform this country.
The European Commission has provided a wide range of
career opportunities where Irish talent has risen to the highest
levels. The skills and relationships they built have benefited this
country far more than our size alone would justify. We have
all gained from EU initiatives in workplace, competition and
environmental legislation.
Sixty per cent of everything
this island produces is sold
to trading partners within the EU’s
single market.
Building Confidence
We cannot afford to weaken the position of our exporters or
make it less attractive for future investment from around the
world. Many of the nearly one million jobs created in Ireland
over the past 15 years have been in export oriented businesses.
While our competitiveness remains a serious issue for this sector,
a strong 'Yes' vote for Lisbon will build confidence in Ireland
among international and indigenous investors and contribute to
our economic recovery and to job retention.
Streamlined Decision-Making
An organisation as complex as the EU cannot remain static – it
must continue to evolve. The Lisbon Treaty will deliver a more
efficient and effective institutions with streamlined and faster
decision-making processes. Consider the following:
ƒƒ The new rules proposed for qualified majority voting will
protect the interests of small economies like Ireland and at the
same time make it easier to make important decisions
ƒƒ The elected President of the Council of Ministers will give the
EU a more stable system of leadership and a stronger position
in international negotiations
ƒƒ Ireland will retain its right to decide on important issues such
as taxation, education, healthcare, justice, family law and
defence without any interference from Brussels
ƒƒ The treaty will also facilitate cross-border co-operation against
organised crime
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ƒƒ It will allow for further enlargement of the union,
increasing the size of the single market and offering further
opportunities, and of course competition for business
ƒƒ The treaty gives legal status to the Charter of Fundamental
Rights with its commitment to continuing social progress,
fair employment legislation and the responsibility of member
states to deliver education, health and other public services.
The outcome of the referendum
will have an irreversible impact
on business, employment and more
particularly on the prosperity of future
generations in this country.
Permanent Representation
One notable feature of the Lisbon debate has been the
agreement by the European Council to reverse the decision
of the Nice Treaty reducing the number of commissioners.
Ireland will therefore retain permanent representation on the
commission. This will only apply if the treaty is passed and
our commissioner has always been a key contact for Irish
business in Brussels.
No Going Back
While I don’t want to dwell on the negative consequences
of saying 'No', it is something we all have to consider before
voting on October 2nd. These consequences are real and
cannot be ignored.
Ireland is small but we have always punched far above
our weight in Europe. Despite the size of our economy, we
have become a respected partner of Europe’s most powerful
countries including the UK, Germany, and France. I believe a
'No' vote, blocking progress in Europe, would seriously
undermine this position.
The business community wants Ireland to be at the heart of
a stronger, more streamlined Europe. Now is the time for us,
as members of that business community, to speak out on this
critical issue, for whatever is decided on October 2nd, there will
be no going back. k
Jack Golden, Human Resources
Director, CRH plc
Jack Golden is a former president of
Engineers Ireland and the German-Irish
Chamber of Commerce. He has worked in
the USA, Germany, France and Ireland in
industries from metal processing to electrical
appliances, food and building materials. He
spent six years with Continental AG as MD
of Semperit Ireland and Continental Pneus
in France. He is currently Group HR Director
of CRH plc, which employs 80,000 people in
35 countries.
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