Burton to lead yes campaign for party

Joan Burton pledged that the EU fiscal treaty was about getting people off the dole and back to work as she was declared Labour’s referendum campaign director.

The social protection minister is to lead Labour’s yes campaign on the referendum ahead of the May 31 vote.

Ms Burton, who has often been critical of European fiscal matters, will work alongside party leader Eamon Gilmore in trying to win over the electorate.

Not long after Labour formed a coalition with Fine Gael last year, Ms Burton was critical of the ECB and suggested it should be investigated for its role in “bribing” Irish banks with cheap credit and helping to fuel Ireland’s financial crisis.

The EU treaty will tighten member budgets and grant Ireland access to a second bailout if needed.

Some party sources said the role for the party’s deputy leader would put her on the frontline and draw a line in the sand in terms of doubts others may have on her commitment to Europe.

Ms Burton is expected to position herself as the party’s director of elections for a yes vote this weekend at the Labour conference in Galway.

Meanwhile, European commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said a yes vote was about signalling that Ireland was back in business at the heart of the eurozone.