'Yes' is vital for recovery, says Cowen
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Monday September 07 2009
Brian Cowen has told voters that a 'Yes' vote in the Lisbon referendum is the first crucial step to Ireland's economic recovery.
The Taoiseach warned that there was no room for complacency among supporters of the Lisbon Treaty ahead of next month's referendum.
Speaking in Limerick yesterday, Mr Cowen told voters that our strategic development was intrinsically linked to Europe and a 'Yes' vote was crucial to pushing development forward.
"I am asking, with all of the authority that my office commands, the people of Ireland to look at the big picture, our destiny," he said.
"Our whole strategic development is totally linked with the European Union and if we are to deal with the difficult tasks that do confront us as a people, both now and in the months and years ahead, Europe will be central in helping us through this difficult time."
The Taoiseach was in Limerick yesterday to turn the sod at a new graduate medical school at the University of Limerick -- a €16m project set to employ 150 people during its construction.
"We are facing 100 of the most crucial days that this country has faced in a very, very long time. There are important decisions to be made and people are looking for us to proceed in a decisive way and, as I have said, the first step is on October 2 next," said Mr Cowen.
The major push for the 'Yes' vote comes after a poll last week revealed a drop -- from 54pc to 46pc -- in the numbers saying they will support the new treaty. A total of 29pc said they would vote 'No', an increase of one point since the last poll in May while the number of people in the 'Don't Know' category increased by seven points to 25pc.
Yesterday, Margaret O'Leary, from Co Clare, said she had no doubts about the importance of voting 'Yes'.
But Sarah Ryan, from Oola in Co Limerick, was less certain about the outcome of the upcoming referendum.
"I don't know how it will go. I voted no last time and I might vote no again," she said.
Meanwhile, Mr Cowen will be the first of the party leaders to be quizzed by the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee tomorrow on all facets of the controversial Treaty.
