Martin: Lisbon poll ‘outside interference’

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has criticised what he described as “outside interference in our vital national debate on Ireland’s future in Europe” after a survey by a British think-tank found opposition to the treaty is increasing here.

A survey commissioned by Open Europe found that just 38% of Irish people would vote in favour of the Lisbon treaty if a second referendum were called, while 62% would vote against it.

The poll was carried out by Red C among 1,000 voters last week, two-thirds of whom believe that Europe had not respected the Irish no vote, and 71% of whom said they would be opposed to holding a second vote.

More than half said they would not vote for Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his Fianna Fáil party in the next general election if he decided to hold a second vote.

Open Europe is a London-based think-tank that opposes further European integration.

It said the poll showed EU leaders should now drop the Lisbon treaty, which was rejected by Irish voters in a referendum five weeks ago.

Mr Martin said One Europe was a eurosceptic organisation and “was not in tune with Irish interests”.

In a statement yesterday afternoon, Mr Martin said: “I would like to know what prompted a British organisation with a strong ideological bias to commission a poll into Irish attitudes to Europe at this time. Ireland’s future in Europe is a matter for decision by Irish people.”

He said the Government has commissioned a study aimed at exploring the reasons behind the no vote. “This will provide an input into a national debate which needs to take place in the months ahead as we seek to find and agree a way forward that will serve Ireland’s interests.

“We will, of course, be consulting with our EU partners, but I do not believe that we have anything to learn from anti-EU bodies like Open Europe. Its views are not in tune with Irish interests,” he said.

Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore said it is important that politicians do not become preoccupied about Europe while ignoring other important problems facing the country.

“We’ve had a referendum, we’ve had a result from that referendum. There are other issues that are on our national agenda, in particular concerns about the economy.

“I go around my constituency and other constituencies around the country and I hear people concerned about their businesses and whether they will have any jobs next year, rather than the future of the European institutions,” he said in an interview with RTÉ yesterday.

Mr Gilmore said there would be “not much point” in having another referendum as the rejection of the treaty would be greater than it was in the first place.