FG confusion over second Lisbon vote

DIFFERENCES have emerged in Fine Gael over whether or not a second referendum should be held on the Lisbon treaty.

Responding to comments by Europe Minister Dick Roche that another vote would be “appropriate”, Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell said yesterday “there has to be a referendum”.

However, the party’s spokeswoman on European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, issued a statement a short time later saying “the same question on Lisbon cannot be put to the people again”.

Mr Roche said yesterday that “having considered the realities we face” a second referendum is now the most appropriate response to the political crisis caused by the rejection of the treaty in June.

“We cannot exclude the possibility that at some stage and in the right circumstances, it may be necessary to consult the people once again. And my personal belief is that a referendum is ultimately the most appropriate response to the position that we are in,” he said yesterday.

Mr Roche said the Government is awaiting the results of a public consultation on attitudes to the EU and the treaty but said: “At the end of the day, when that process is over we are still going to have to make a decision, and I don’t see us being able to go the legislative route because of key elements within the treaty. I emphasise this is a personal view.”

Mr Roche did not have any indication of when such a vote would take place and has not yet received support on the matter from other ministers.

“My colleagues in cabinet have to still sit down and work out what a collective view would be,” he said.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio yesterday morning, Mr Mitchell said that “we are going through a period of reflection” and criticised the timing of Mr Roche’s remarks.

But he said: “My personal view is that, whatever happens, there has to be some referendum if we are to ratify this. We have to go to the people in some shape or form if we are to ratify this.”

Ms Creighton, who was one of Fine Gael’s key campaigners for a yes vote along with Mr Mitchell said another referendum on the same terms would be rejected.

Labour’s deputy leader, Joan Burton, said: ” There can be no question of simply putting the same proposition to the people once again. There is no basis for believing that a second referendum would produce a different outcome to the one we got on June 12.”