Treaty rejection ‘not a cost-free option’

IRELAND risks losing foreign companies if the Lisbon Treaty is rejected, the Minister for European Affairs has claimed.

Dick Roche said the country’s commitment to Europe would be in doubt and our image among international investors would suffer.

“Ireland is not the cheapest place in the world to locate but Ireland does have a very clear image of being in the heart of Europe. To actually bring that into question would do indelible damage,” he said.