Cowen treaty admission ‘did not lose referendum’

THE admission that he failed fully to read the Lisbon treaty was not a “determining factor” in the Government’s referendum defeat, Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisted yesterday.

At the beginning of the referendum campaign, Mr Cowen admitted he had not read the treaty “cover to cover”, but said he had been involved in its negotiation and knew exactly what it contained. The no campaign seized on his admission, however, and asked voters why they should support a treaty which the Taoiseach had not read.

Following the defeat of the campaign, both Mr Cowen and EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy — who also admitted not reading the treaty in full — were heavily criticised for sending out the wrong message.