Five of Galway's public representatives from both the city and county have joined forces to call for a 'no' vote in the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty Referendum.

Three city councillors, Labour Councillor Colette Connolly, her sister, the Independent Cllr Catherine Connolly and Cllr Danny Callanan, also an Independent, join two county councillors, the Independent Cllr Seosamh O Cuaig and Sinn Féin Cllr Dermot Connolly, in calling for a 'no' vote.

The five have come together on the issue of Lisbon because they believe the transfer of power to Brussels has gone too far.

Another county councillor, Tiernan Walshe of Fine Gael, has also come out against the Treaty.

According to a statement, Labour councillor, Colette Connolly, was given a major boost with the Sunday Business Post Red C opinion poll that shows a majority of Labour voters agree with her stance on the Treaty.

One of Councillor Connolly's criticisms of the treaty is that Lisbon will "copperfasten" EU Court of Justice judgements, "which will make it impossible to enforce pay standards for workers."

"Lisbon is intrinsically linked to the 'race to the bottom' and, as a Labour councillor, I just cannot support such an attack on workers' wages and workers' rights," she said.

According to Cllr Seosamh O Cuaig power lies at the crux of the issue. "Quite simply, Brussels has already too much power. Just look at the state of our fishing industry, that is all thanks to Brussels. And now they dictate what we do with our sheep or whether we can cut our turf. It has gone too far. It is time to call a halt."

Daniel Callanan echoed these views. He sees the Lisbon Treaty "as another step on the road to a United States of Europe."

"Neither the people in Ireland or in Europe want a federal Europe. But when that happens the big states will totally dictate policy and we on the periphery of Europe can wave goodbye to our 12.5 per cent corporation tax," he said.

Cllr Catherine Connolly said she had no hesitation in praising the contribution the EU has made in the area of women's rights. "As a feminist and practising barrister, I am acutely aware of how important European influence and legislation has been for the role of women in Ireland. However, this treaty has little to do with the further promotion of equality and democracy and much more to do with the development of a militarised EU and that is my deepest concern about Lisbon."

Cllr Dermot Connolly, a Sinn Fein member, is proud to follow his party's line. And he reiterates the party's argument that a better deal can be negotiated. "The French and Dutch have already rejected this EU constitution and Ireland can do the same and force the politicians to go back to the drawing board. What the people want is a social Europe, one that works in their interests, not one runs to the diktat of the market."

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