Taoiseach: Don’t use No vote to punish me

BRIAN COWEN last night pleaded with voters not to punish him over NAMA or the Fás fiasco by voting against the Lisbon Treaty.

With just five days to go to the repeat referendum, the Taoiseach insisted the issues were too important for anyone to stay at home or use it for anti-Government revenge.

Mr Cowen said the campaign was far from over, but the Yes side’s strong showing in opinion polls was encouraging.

The Taoiseach said Ireland’s future was entwined with Europe’s and should not be put at risk by a No vote.

Mr Cowen said the guarantees achieved have dealt with concerns on tax, neutrality, workers’ rights, social protection and membership of the Commission, and had put people in a position to feel easier about focusing on the real meaning of the Lisbon Treaty.

He added that a Yes vote was essential to securing jobs growth and speeding any economic recovery from recession.

“I honestly think the Irish people, the Irish electorate, have sufficient discernment to know that the issue before us next Friday is an issue for the country for years and decades ahead.

“We will always have issues in our domestic politics as part of the debate that goes on. But this is a big issue for the country, an issue above party politics, and it’s an issue for the country to decide.

“I honestly believe that people are looking at that issue on its own merits.

“Not one single major investor in this country has called for a No vote, while 90% of the people who create jobs, be it in small, medium or large companies, have said that a Yes vote will help to protect and create jobs,” he said.

Labour and Fine Gael leaders also urged a Yes vote, but the Taoiseach ruled out all three men appearing on a platform together.

Leading No campaigner Declan Ganley predicted a late surge to the No side as happened in last year’s referendum.

He said a No victory was not just likely, but with a high turnout would prove to be even bigger than last year’s margin of victory.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams also appealed for a No vote, insisting that Ireland would get a better deal if it “spoke for Europe” and rejected the Lisbon Treaty for a second time.

Mr Adams said a Yes vote would lead to a wages “race to the bottom”.

“We need to have a better Ireland and we need to have a better EU,” he said.

“That is a social European Union where citizens’ rights are protected as opposed to this confederation,” he said.