EU vote will only happen on legal advice

THE GOVERNMENT is scrambling to avoid a referendum on proposed new EU finance rules with the Taoiseach admitting it will only take place if it is legally forced to provide one.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin told yesterday’s Irish Examiner that the public should be consulted on whether or not to accept a new “fiscal compact” regardless of whether or not it requires a change to the Constitution.

However, when asked whether the country should be entitled to vote on the matter, Enda Kenny said: “You don’t go holding a referendum unless you have to.”