| Cóir | |
|---|---|
| Type | Civil society |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland |
| Spokesperson | Richard Greene |
| Website | http://www.coircampaign.org |
Cóir (Irish for "justice"; pronounced /koːɹ/) is a social Catholic, conservative Eurosceptic lobby group established to campaign against the Treaty of Lisbon which was approved by referendum in Ireland on 2 October 2009. The group claims to have had approximately 2,600 campaign volunteers for the 6 months prior to the referendum.[1]
According to spokesman Brian Hickey, Cóir are considering registering as a political party. Hickey said he believed there was now room for a "patriotic, conservative and socially conscious party" to fill the "gap there in the Irish political spectrum".[2]
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It claims to be an independent group with members coming from different political backgrounds. It is generally more conservative than other Lisbon No vote campaigns, and includes a number of individuals involved in social conservative issues.
Former member of the Fianna Fáil party and former Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown Green Party Councillor, member of Muintir na hÉireann Richard Greene has acted as spokesperson in the media.[3] Other figures who have represented Cóir include Niamh Uí Bhriain and Peter Murphy.[4]
Cóir advertised in the national and local media, notably in newspapers such as Alive!, Irish Family Press and also submitted letters on the subject to these publications. [5] Its spokespersons also had several opinion pieces in newspapers such as Irish Times, and appeared on local and national radio and TV.[6]
It has campaigned against the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.[7] Greene, Uí Bhrian and Murphy, addressed the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs in a heated debate.[8][9] Greene accused the committee of treason for not upholding the vote on the treaty.[10]
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has alleged that the group is a "front organisation" of the pro-life group Youth Defence.[11] The organisation operates from the same building on Capel Street in Dublin as Youth Defence and the Pro-Life Alliance.[12]
Some members of religious organisations have criticised the organisation's stance on the Lisbon Treaty.[13]