Parties pull together for yes campaign

THE Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, said he and Fine Gael will put their differences behind them until after the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and work together for a yes vote.

The Taoiseach denied a snub of FG leader Enda Kenny who was not included in a joint canvass yesterday evening by Mr Cowen and Labour leader, Eamon Gilmore.

The announcement that the two would campaign together came just two hours after Mr Kenny issued a statement calling for the three main parties to “issue a joint message to voters to vote yes in the upcoming referendum”.

FG front bench spokesperson Olivia Mitchell eventually joined the two leaders in the canvass in the Dundrum Shopping Centre in south Dublin.

Mr Cowen said there was no snub of Mr Kenny and he could not be there because he was in Cork canvassing. He said there were “some unfortunate issues earlier in the week” referring to remarks he made which were interpreted by FG as criticism of their campaign efforts. But he said: “Whatever misunderstandings there were I hope they’re behind us.”

Mr Cowen said that he expects turnout to be reasonably good and that he does not detect any apathy regarding the referendum.

“I don’t think anyone on the yes side is contemplating defeat but I recognise its a democratic choice and the people are the arbiters and we can’t take anything for granted,” he said.

Mr Kenny, who was canvassing in Cork when it emerged Mr Gilmore and Mr Cowen would be canvassing without him, put on a brave face and welcomed the move.

“I welcome very much the fact that the Taoiseach on behalf of the Government, and Mr Gilmore on behalf of Labour are able to meet like this,” he said.

“Labour have been campaigning for a yes vote for quite some time.

“But because of the internal mechanics of the leaving of Bertie Ahern and the coming of Brian Cowen, FF were a bit distracted from focusing on the Lisbon campaign,” he said.

“I’m glad to see the Government is now out and I hope they make a really big effort in the next 10 days to a fortnight — this meeting has to be commended.”

Mr Gilmore said the joint effort by the three parties is not unusual: “As a referendum comes into the second half there is always a more coordinated effort by the parties supporting a yes vote,” he said.