People will not be ‘scared’ into vote for Lisbon

THE financial crisis would not “scare” people into voting yes if a second Lisbon referendum was held, according to Socialist Party Euro-election candidate, Joe Higgins.

He said the EU would be blamed for the credit crisis and this would become a big issue during the referendum campaign.

Four people who supported a no vote in June’s referendum attended the final meeting yesterday of the Oireachtas sub-committee on Ireland’s future in Europe.

The committee, made up of representatives of all Oireachtas parties, is drawing up a report with recommendations which will be presented to the Government next week.

Mr Higgins told members that “there is a certain view among the establishment that because of the economic crisis that has fallen on this country and the world, people can be scared into supporting it the second time around”.

He said: “I caution them on that. There will be a vigorous debate and in the course of that debate some of us will bring out the fact the crisis that will create such major problems for working people is the fruit of the type of policies that are being pushed by the treaty. When people understand that, the idea that a second vote will turn up a yes result will prove to be false.”

Anthony Coughlan of the anti-Lisbon group, the National Platform, said the no vote would be even greater if a second referendum were held.

“If it is proposed to go down the constitutionally dubious, awesomely dubious and undemocratic course of re-running the referendum, there will be an even more resounding vote next time around,” he said.

A second referendum may not even be legal, according to Roger Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance.

“The decision was made and one cannot ask the people to decide again on exactly the same treaty,” he said.

Most guests criticised the Government for “encouraging” other member states to proceed with their ratification process.

Clare TD Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fáil) said: “The Government said at the time that we were not involving ourselves in anybody else’s ratification process, and we should not do so.”