Kenny: Vote will help get better debt deal

Enda Kenny said the decisive yes vote in the EU treaty referendum would strengthen the Government’s hand in renegotiating Ireland’s banking debt in Europe.

The Taoiseach said he had spoken after the yes vote to European leaders, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, and emphasised the importance of lessening the debt as part of our bailout.

He said he had no regrets not engaging in a television debate during the campaign, and said he would never have been “shoved around” by Sinn Féin demands for one.

Speaking at Government Buildings after the 60% yes vote was announced, Mr Kenny said a banking resolution at European level could help Ireland emerge from its bailout programme at a quicker pace.

“I have consistentlyargued that budget rules alone will not be enough to overcome the economic crisis that faces Europe,” he said. “They must go hand-in-hand with a real and concrete growth programme for Europe.

“Yesterday’s vote streng-thens the Government hand as we go into negotiations this month on that programme. We’ll seek an outcome that is good for Ireland as a whole.

“The developing situation in Europe’s banking sector needs a comprehensive solution and Ireland’s banking debt must form part of that solution.”

Mr Kenny rejected the no side’s argument that future debt rules and budgets would now be set in Brussels rather than in Dublin, once the treaty was ratified in the Dáil.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said Labour had listened to concerns of voters during the campaign, including on unemployment and on mortgages, and that his party would strive for progress on these matters.

He said he was not disappointed by a no vote in three Dublin constituencies, which are dominated by Labour TDs.

“We will take this result today, not just as the passing of the treaty itself, but as a call to redouble our efforts as a Government to work for recovery and fresh hope.”

Deputy party leader Joan Burton earlier said there had been many reluctant voters who voted no as they were uncertain on what the future would bring.

“Certainly, the people who were most upset, for very understandable reasons, were people who were currently not working and wanted to get back to work. They were the people, in my experience, where there was the strongest expression of a no vote,” she said, adding there was a tradition of opposing EU treaty referend-ums in Dublin South West and Dublin North West.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin said Mr Kenny’s constant refusal to debate the referendum with political leaders on television “didn’t help” the yes campaign.

“There is an obligation on political leaders to engage in debate — it’s the right thing to do,” Mr Martin said in Cork’s City Hall yesterday.

“If we don’t, we are failing people.

“If you’re advocating a position, then you should be prepared to go on a platform and argue your case.”

He criticised Sinn Féin for its approach to the campaign: “In my view, Sinn Féin has cynically exploited referendum after referendum to get a profile for their candidates and target a certain vote. I challenged Gerry Adams to head-to-head debate and he refused.”