Labour blasts SF 'Plan B' assurances if public vote No
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams launching his party's 'No to Lisbon' campaign yesterday in front of Leinster House, flanked by Aengus O Snodaigh, Caoimhghin O Caolain, Mary Lou McDonald and campaign director Padraig McLochlainn.
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Tuesday May 20 2008
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore yesterday accused Sinn Fein of misleading the electorate with its suggestion of a Plan B scenario in the event of a 'No' vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
"There is no guarantee at all, far from it, that another treaty could be negotiated. This treaty took a long time to be negotiated. It is, as are all treaties, negotiated between 27 member states and, frankly, I think Sinn Fein are misleading people into believing that if you vote against this treaty, something better is going to be available six months or 12 months down the line," he said.
Launching her party's campaign against the referendum, Sinn Fein MEP Mary Lou McDonald said a 'No' vote in the referendum will force the Government back to the negotiating table to get a better deal.
But Mr Gilmore said: "They know that is simply not the case. They are misleading people." He insisted that every argument made by Euro-sceptics on neutrality, voting powers and taxation had been "blown out of the water".
"Virtually all of the arguments that the 'No' campaign started out with at the very beginning have been shown to be false," he said.
"They have been making false arguments and one by one they have been demolished," he said.
Sinn Fein admitted yesterday that the treaty won't change the laws on abortion here.
Unlike other 'No' vote campaigners, Ms McDonald said passing the referendum would have no impact at all on abortion. "I don't believe it will have any," she said.
Not only does Ms McDonald's straightforward view put her party at odds with several other 'No' campaigners, but it also undermines claims Lisbon will result in abortion being legalised in this country.
She said a 'Yes' vote will result in Ireland losing its permanent Commissioner and see the country's voting strength halved on the Council of Ministers.
"While the larger states will also be rotated on the Commission, Britain, Germany and Italy will almost double their voting strength on the Council of Ministers and have far more MEPs than Ireland.
Ms McDonald also says Article 48 of the EU Reform Treaty will remove Ireland's ability to set its own tax rates.
Mr Adams said the Lisbon Treaty is not as complex a document as claimed by the 'Yes' campaign. "This treaty isn't rocket science and we shouldn't be mystified by it," he said.
He said those campaigning for a 'Yes' vote are scaremongering by exaggerating the consequences of its rejection.
Meanwhile, a campaign was launched yesterday to encourage young people to vote in the referendum. The Rock The Vote campaign follows on from their success during last years general election. Supported by the Union of Students in Ireland, the campaign also aims to encourage young people to register, and to raise awareness on key issues so young people can make an informed choice.
- Fionnan Sheahan Political Editor
