Yes vote will deliver Lisbon benefits: no vote will bring doubt and uncertainty
Issued : Tuesday 10 June, 2008
Statement by Eamon Gilmore TD
Leader of the Labour Party, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade
The campaign on the Lisbon Reform Treaty which is now reaching its conclusion, has been one of the most vigorous and energetic that I can remember. I cannot recall any previous referendum campaign where the principal opposition parties have put such an effort into trying to secure a YES vote.
I want to thank my colleagues Prionsias De Rossa and Ruairi Quinn, and particularly our Director of Elections Joe Costello, for their hard work and leadership in this campaign
I also want to thank the media for their coverage of the campaign and for their efforts in helping to explain the issues to the public.
The Labour Party has run a positive campaign in which we sought to explain the Treaty and highlight the gains for Ireland. As a progressive party, we have consistently focused on explaining why we see Lisbon as a progressive Treaty - a Citizen's Treaty that will further democratise the EU, improve the position of working people, advance a social Europe, and beef up Europe's role in tackling climate change.
I accept that Lisbon Reform Treaty is a complex document and that the wording does not lend itself to simple explanation. However, I also believe that there is now sufficient information available to the public to allow voters to make an informed decision on Thursday.
And it is a hugely important decision that Irish voters have to make. The fact that Ireland is the only country required by its constitution to hold a referendum places the Irish electorate in a position of great power. But with power comes responsibility and I hope that the overwhelming majority of voters will accept that responsibility and turn out to vote.
Despite the complexity of the issues involved we know what will happen if the people vote YES. The Lisbon Treaty will be ratified and its provisions will come into effect in due course.
If the people vote NO, we will be entering a period of doubt and uncertainty. We are clearly facing more difficult economic times here in Ireland and internationally. Do we want to add to these economic difficulties the doubt and uncertainty that a rejection of the Treaty would bring?
Those who suggest that we should vote NO to allow the government to go back and negotiate a 'better deal' are either extraordinarily naïve or are deliberately misleading the public.
This treaty is the end result of long period of discussion and negotiation between the 27 member states, much of it conducted under an Irish Presidency. There is no certainty that the other 26 member states would be willing to re-open negotiations and even if they did, there is no certainty that we would get a better deal.
The political profile of Europe has changed since this Treaty was drafted, with progressive governments in a number of countries (such as Italy) having been replaced by right-wing administrations. Does anyone seriously believe that Silvio Berlusconi will agree to a new Treaty that would give Irish workers greater rights over and above those negotiated in the Charter of Fundamental Rights? The reality is that if any attempts were made to reopen the Treaty, the Charter would be the first target of Berlusconi and those who share his right-wing political views.
On this final day of campaigning I want to direct some comments directly to working people. There are a number of very good reasons why working people should vote "Yes" on June 12th.
1. The Charter of Fundamental Rights will become part of the European Union Treaties and will, for the first time, make it a basic part of the EU that working people will have "the right to negotiate and conclude collective agreements at the appropriate levels and, in cases of conflicts of interest, to take collective action to defend their interests, including strike action"
2. In addition, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, inserts in the EU Treaties, a range of rights for workers, including rights to information and consultation; protection against unfair dismissal; fair and just working conditions; and entitlement to social security and social assistance.
3. The Treaty contains a "social clause" whereby social issues, such as the promotion of a high level of employment, adequate social protection and the fight against social exclusion must be taken into account when the EU is defining and implementing all policies.
4. The Lisbon Treaty will strengthen people's rights to Public Services. It sets down a legal basis for legislating on public services, and includes a specific protocol on public services. In addition the Charter unequivocally gives citizen rights of access to public services.
These advances will be lost if the Lisbon Treaty is rejected.
At every successive referendum on EU matters since Ireland first joined, those calling for a NO vote have preached doom and predicted disaster. None of the predictions have been correct. Ireland has prospered in the EU. The EU has been a catalyst for social advancement. They were wrong in previous referenda and they will be proven wrong on Lisbon.
I am proud of the part Labour has played in this referendum campaign. We held our first press conference on Lisbon (to promote the Charter of Fundamental Rights) on December 12th last and have worked since then at national and local level to explain the Treaty to Irish voters and to promote its benefits.
I have written directly to every Labour Party member in the country stressing the importance of getting out the vote and continuing the campaign right up to close of polls at 10.00pm on Thursday.
It will be a close fought thing, but I am confident that common sense will prevail and that the Irish people will vote for the undoubted benefits that the Lisbon Treaty will bring.
