Ministers battle to rescue yes campaign after gaffe

The Government was last night frantically trying to get its campaign for a yes vote in the May 31 referendum back on track after a potentially disastrous gaffe by a senior minister who said there could be re-run if the fiscal treaty is rejected.

In a radio debate on the treaty, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton was pressed on whether Ireland had a plan B to deal with a no vote given Government assertions a rejection would lock the country out of a second emergency EU bailout.

Mr Bruton said: “I suppose I will have to say that we will need access to this fund and Ireland will be looking to say can we vote again, because we will need access to this fund.”