Taoisigh unite for Yes vote on Nice
“I passionately believe that what we’re doing is giving the same opportunity to other countries to improve as we did,” he said.
The Taoiseach’s comments came as all the main political parties and Yes to Nice organisations called on voters to turn out in large numbers for Saturday’s referendum.
Mr Ahern said he was worried over the outcome of the referendum and that complacency was partly to blame for the treaty defeat last year.
“The last time out I think too many people opened their champagne bottles early and nothing happened for the last eight days. It’s not a mistake we’re going to make this time,” he said.
Fine Gael, Labour and the Progressive Democrats said it was significant the only opponents to the treaty were the Greens and Sinn Féin who represent a tiny proportion of the population.
Meanwhile the elder statesmen of Irish politics, including former taoisigh and other senior politicians, joined at a press conference yesterday to call for a Yes vote.
Former President Paddy Hillary, who signed Ireland’s treaty of accession to the EEC in 1972, said a Yes vote was vital for Europe as a whole.
“I’m here because I’m worried. I’m worried and I hope that we can give the same chance to other countries,” he said. “Each enlargement of Europe makes it a safer and a better place to live.”
In contrast to Mr Ahern’s worries over the referendum, former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds said there was now an element of confidence in the Yes camp that the treaty would be ratified.
Former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald said it was inconceivable Ireland would be responsible for blocking the entry of applicant countries into the EU.
“The diplomatic goodwill we have built up over the last 30 years would be destroyed,” Dr Fitzgerald said. “If a country had kept us out in 1972, how would we feel about that? Would they be dominated by feelings of resentment against us because we voted against them for no good reason?”
Former Progressive Democrat leader Des O’Malley said there are pressing issues in applicant countries that can be tackled through EU membership.
“These are people who don’t just have economic difficulties. Democratically, they are very vulnerable. Until very recently there were under totalitarian rule. They could easily again revert to that,” he said.
“We have to examine our consciences and ask if we can refuse the reasonable request of those 10 and perhaps 12 applicant states for the democratic protection which the EU affords.”
Mr O’Malley said he was not in favour of a constitutional ban on Ireland joining a common European defence force but said the “greater good” was served by voting yes to the referendum.
