Ahern denies efforts to bury bad EU news

BERTIE AHERN last night insisted he was not engaged in trying to “bury” bad EU news until the looming referendum on the EU treaty was out of the way.

As he hosted German chancellor Angela Merkel during a whistle-stop visit to Dublin, the Taoiseach dismissed claims by no vote campaigners that the Government had cut a secret deal with Brussels to keep controversial issues like business tax reform on the back burner until after the June poll.

Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald accused ministers of “underhand” tactics in the run-up to the referendum. “They do not want a real debate and it is clear the EU is colluding in this approach and suppressing information from the electorate,” she said.

Mr Ahern dismissed such claims as he and Ms Merkel made a joint plea for a yes vote.

Taoiseach-designate Brian Cowen also attacked suggestions Ireland had decided to hold the referendum in June so as to avoid any “unpredictable” events during France’s presidency of the EU later in the year.

“We want to maximise the debate, we welcome debate, and we’re very anxious as a government that public opinion be fully informed about the importance of the European Union and the importance of this treaty being ratified in terms of Ireland’s interests, now and into the future,” he said.

The German leader moved to allay fears of a unified business tax damaging Irish competitiveness by saying any member state could veto plans for the reform. Ms Merkel used an address to the National Forum on Europe at Dublin Castle to stress the benefits of the Lisbon treaty going through.

Ireland is the only country to hold a national poll on the agreement and it was under Ms Merkel’s leadership of the EU that it was decided to replace the constitution voted down in France and the Netherlands with the treaty.

Ms Merkel also attended a meeting of the European People’s Party, Europe’s biggest centre-right political movement, hosted by its Irish section, Fine Gael.

The anti-Lisbon treaty campaign group accused the Government and Fine Gael of a U-turn on their previous policy of discouraging foreign leaders from visiting Ireland during the referendum campaign.