Ahern lashes out at ‘scare tactics’
The Taoiseach also rejected claims that the Government was currently engaged in spending cutbacks and said the current economic situation was no reason for again rejecting the Nice Treaty.
Mr Ahern said the Government was engaged in controlling the rate of increase in public spending, but resources were not being cut, especially not in the case of health services, which were getting priority.
As preparations for the referendum expected to be held next month continue, Mr Ahern yesterday stepped up his Government's efforts to get the voters to reverse their rejection of Nice in June 2001.
Mr Ahern said Ireland had used 30 years of EU membership to build prosperity and argued that opponents of Irish membership had been proved wrong and were again resorting to the use of scare tactics.
The Taoiseach told RTÉ radio that a repeat of the No vote would result in growing uncertainty for Ireland's role in the EU and would harm inward investment. He conceded that the Government had done an ineffective job in explaining the issues to voters in the run-up to the last referendum and that the 35% turnout last time partly reflected this.
He said the Government had worked ever since to redress this problem by establishing a Forum on Europe and stepping up its information campaign. Concerns about Irish neutrality had also been addressed through a political declaration from the EU leaders and the Irish Government assuring that there could be no change without a vote by the people.
Mr Ahern said Ireland had succeeded in attracting industry but he had been asked by prospective overseas investors over the past year whether the country was really committed to the EU in light of the rejection of Nice. He said Ireland's attractiveness as a base within the EU was being called into question for this reason.
"If people believe that Ireland is not strongly a European country linked to the future of Europe, it will continue to create uncertainty," Mr Ahern said.
The Taoiseach challenged the Nice opponents to spell out what benefits, especially economic benefits, would come to Ireland if the people again vote No.
He said the No camp had come up with no such arguments.
"There is nothing in it for Ireland to say No. The No-side try to throw up all of the fear but the only fear I see is for Ireland to vote No. That's where the damage is for Ireland politically and socially," he said.
