Vote no and see what real austerity feels like

The debate on the referendum on the Intergovernmental Treaty on Stability, Co-ordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, otherwise known as the fiscal compact, kicked off in earnest this week.

The farcical and hypocritical nature of what is in store for us over the next month has already been exposed.

On Tuesday, Michael Noonan warned that rejection of the treaty by Ireland would mean a much tighter budget next year. Immediately, the no campaign reacted angrily, accusing him of scaremongering and bullying. The no side should look at their own claims about this being a treaty for austerity and the promise that if we sign up to it, we will be exposed to years of austerity.