Libertas warns against making uninformed choice on treaty 17/05/2008 - 12:30:56
Irish people are in danger of making an uninformed choice in the Lisbon Treaty referendum, according to Libertas chairman Declan Ganley.
Reacting to today's Irish Times TNS MRBI poll, Mr Ganley said that he understood the pro-European sentiment of the electorate, but that it was important not to vote Yes without understanding the treaty.
It was found that 47% of respondents said they do not yet know whether they will cast their ballot for or against the proposed EU document, with 35% in favour and 18% against.
“I understand and share the desire of Irish people to say yes to Europe - for years I have done so myself,” he said.
“However, this referendum is not about EU membership, it is about the contents of the Lisbon treaty.
“People have a responsibility to inform themselves of the treaty's contents.
“This treaty will effect us for the next 20 generations, and if you don't know what's in it, you have a duty to those who will come after you to vote No.
“I simply do not believe that even a simple majority of those who are planning to vote Yes have read the treaty, or fully understand it. In those circumstances, voting Yes is irresponsible.”
Mr Ganley said that there were some encouraging aspects to the poll for the No campaign.
"The fact is that the entire political establishment, and its allies, cannot even persuade half the electorate to back this deal,” he said. “Parties supporting this Treaty received 85% support in the TNS MRBI poll yesterday, but they cannot persuade half of that number to support the treaty.
“Despite immense pressure and bullying by the Government and by the EU establishment, more than 60% of the electorate have not been persuaded to vote Yes.
“These poll figures bear an eerie similarity to opinion poll results before the first Nice Treaty referendum, - and based on the response I am hearing from ordinary people, I am confident that the final result will as well.”
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Irish people are in danger of making an uninformed choice in the Lisbon Treaty referendum, according to Libertas chairman Declan Ganley.
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