Sinn Féin Dail leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said today that the “consequences of a Yes vote in next months Lisbon Treaty referendum will be bad for Ireland economically and politically.”
Deputy Ó Caolain said:
“In recent days we have heard voices on the Yes side of the Lisbon Treaty debate talk up the prospect of negative consequences of a second no vote. The usual claims of losing inward investment and jobs and undermining our position in Europe are once again being repeated ad nauseam.
“All of these claims were made during the last referendum campaign and have been proved false. They are nothing more than the politics of fear designed to mislead and frighten people into supporting the Lisbon Treaty.
“On inward investment, in the 12 months since the last referendum inward investment has actually increased. In July of this year IDA CEO Barry O'Leary said: "It should be noted that 2008 saw a 14 per cent increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) on the previous year bringing the total number of FDI investments in 2008 to 130."
“On jobs, the primary cause of job losses since June 2008 has been the Fianna Fail-PD-Green Party mismanagement of the economy. It is the right wing economic policies pursued by this government that have caused the economic crisis. These same right wing policies are contained in the Lisbon Treaty. If ratified, this Treaty will make the economic crisis worse not better.
“The same is true of our position in Europe. If ratified the Lisbon Treaty will see Ireland and other smaller member states lose significantly at the Council of Ministers, with our voting strength dropping by more than 50% while larger states will increase their voting strength by more than 50%. And despite claims by the government to have secured an Irish Commissioner, again, if ratified, the Lisbon Treaty proposal for the reduction of the Commission will come into force from 2014 at which point we will lose our Commissioner for 5 out of every 15 years.
“The consequences of a Yes vote will cost Ireland dearly, economically and politically. It will damage our economy and reduce our power and influence in the EU.
“A No vote will provide a real opportunity for a new debate about the future of Europe and Irelands place within it. It will allow Ireland, in real partnership with our EU counterparts, to develop new policies and new approaches to tackle the pressing social and economic problems of our time.”
Deputy Ó Caolain said:
“In recent days we have heard voices on the Yes side of the Lisbon Treaty debate talk up the prospect of negative consequences of a second no vote. The usual claims of losing inward investment and jobs and undermining our position in Europe are once again being repeated ad nauseam.
“All of these claims were made during the last referendum campaign and have been proved false. They are nothing more than the politics of fear designed to mislead and frighten people into supporting the Lisbon Treaty.
“On inward investment, in the 12 months since the last referendum inward investment has actually increased. In July of this year IDA CEO Barry O'Leary said: "It should be noted that 2008 saw a 14 per cent increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) on the previous year bringing the total number of FDI investments in 2008 to 130."
“On jobs, the primary cause of job losses since June 2008 has been the Fianna Fail-PD-Green Party mismanagement of the economy. It is the right wing economic policies pursued by this government that have caused the economic crisis. These same right wing policies are contained in the Lisbon Treaty. If ratified, this Treaty will make the economic crisis worse not better.
“The same is true of our position in Europe. If ratified the Lisbon Treaty will see Ireland and other smaller member states lose significantly at the Council of Ministers, with our voting strength dropping by more than 50% while larger states will increase their voting strength by more than 50%. And despite claims by the government to have secured an Irish Commissioner, again, if ratified, the Lisbon Treaty proposal for the reduction of the Commission will come into force from 2014 at which point we will lose our Commissioner for 5 out of every 15 years.
“The consequences of a Yes vote will cost Ireland dearly, economically and politically. It will damage our economy and reduce our power and influence in the EU.
“A No vote will provide a real opportunity for a new debate about the future of Europe and Irelands place within it. It will allow Ireland, in real partnership with our EU counterparts, to develop new policies and new approaches to tackle the pressing social and economic problems of our time.”
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