The arrogance of Jean Quatramer and others like him beggars belief. The Treaty was ratified by the UK Govenment without a referendum because they knew that the UK population would have voted no. Almost certainly some other member states would have had the same experience. Therefore this is being pushed through with a huge deficit of democratic support. It does not bode well for the future and fails to recognise that forcing issues like this against national will can have nothing but negative consequences for European unity in the longer term. I and many others who spend time in Europe discussing legislative issues are already in despair at the lack of competence, credibility and accountability within the Commission. Other European colleagues share the same view but feel increasingly unable to influence or change anything. Keep pushing the Irish like this and they will respond in a way that leaves noone in any doubt that there is widespread despair at the incompetence and arrogance of our Politicians at both National and European level. Contemptible and probably corrupt.