Adams campaigns against Treaty of Nice

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams took a break from Northern Ireland politics today to campaign for a ‘‘no’’ vote in the forthcoming referendum on the Treaty of Nice.

The three largest political parties - Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Irish Labour Party - all support the treaty, which paves the way for up to 12 states from eastern and central Europe to join the EU.

But Sinn Fein is joined by Greens and Socialists in arguing it will lead to the creation of a European superstate.

Ireland is the only EU country to hold a referendum on the treaty - due to take place on June 7 - and rejection would mean it would have to be renegotiated.

Speaking in Dublin, Mr Adams said: ‘‘Those who support the Nice Treaty have not dealt with the issues at the heart of the referendum.

‘‘Instead they have tried to deflect attention from those issues by engaging in negative campaigning.’’

He referred to last week’s opinion poll which indicated that, while 52% of Irish people support the Nice Treaty, just one in ten (11%) had a ‘‘good understanding’’ of the issues involved.

He added: ‘‘It is crucial that a full and open debate takes place even at this late stage.’’

He claimed the treaty would undermine Irish sovereignty, relegate the country to the second division of a two-tier Europe and compromise the state’s neutrality by bringing it into Nato through a European army.

Mr Adams unveiled a banner outside the Clancy Barracks, in Islandbridge, which is intended to highlight the cost of building-up such an army while there is a ‘‘chronic shortage’’ of social housing in the city.