Failure to ratify bailout fund ‘akin to treason’

Europe Minister Lucinda Creighton said it would be “akin to national treason” to suggest that Ireland should not ratify the European Stability Mechanism if the fiscal treaty is not passed in the forthcoming referendum.

She was responding to calls from Sinn Féin which said the ESM — a permanent EU bailout fund — should not be ratified by the Dáil if the public voted no because Ireland would be blocked from access to the fund but would still have to contribute to it.

“Will I commit to not ratifying the ESM? Certainly not. The Government is committed to ratification and implementation of the ESM. It would be akin to national treason to suggest otherwise.”