Cowen: 'Rejecting Treaty would damage Irish interests'

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has warned that a rejection of the Lisbon Treaty would damage Ireland’s interests.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio Mr Cowen said that there is unlikely to be a vote as important as next Thursday’s referendum for the generations who will shape Ireland in the future, and that a no victory will bring about a new, uncertain route in Europe.

Mr Cowen said that a no vote he said means that Ireland will marginalise our influence, and that we say to other member states we don’t agree with the consensus that has been arrived at.

“I believe this treaty will be passed,” said Mr Cowen adding that he feels that the Irish people will reflect on the positive experience had during our membership of the EU.

“For Ireland the EU is the greatest enabler of our sovereignty, promoter of our interests and protector of our identity and if we want a future of opportunity we have to stay true to the EU and move it forwards,” he said.

“How are we to contend with the issues that are coming forward without deepening our co-operation with States who share our values?” he added.

“We need to move forward as positive members of the EU and a yes vote will provide us with a platform going forward,” he said

“During the treaty negotiations none of our red lines were crossed all of our positions have been accommodated. This is a decent, balanced and a good deal for Ireland and for Europe.”

“The clouds of confusion which have been orchestrated by the ‘No’ campaign are starting to clear away,” he said adding that the in the last week the Yes side are “getting through the message.”

He said that no side are continuing to make assertions even when it has been shown by the referendum commission that issues like taxation, defence and abortion are not effected.

“All of our basic requirements have been provided for in this treaty and yet we see a well financed and resources campaign putting up posters that continue with assertions that are contrary to the truth,” he said.

He said that Sinn Féin have rejected every European treaty over the last 35 years, and now they are changing their tact by saying go back an renegotiate it again.

“We have already got the re-assurances we require on the basic issues,” he said.

“What we are talking about here is basically enabling the EU and its intuitions to work effectively now that it is a bigger institution than it was before.”

“We need to put this against the background are we in favour of Europe, and are we in favour of Ireland being at the centre of shaping the future of the EU.”

The Taoiseach also said that Ireland “will know what is going with the EU commission” during the 5 years out of every 15 when the country will not have a commissioner.

However he said that it is “untrue to say “that if you vote no you keep you keep your commissioner.

He said that under the Nice Treaty there is already a provision that once the EU reaches 27 members states there is an agreement to go back to 18 commissioners.

He said that that acceptance of the Lisbon Treaty guarantees the provision of rotation, whereas a no vote means that the provisions of Nice kick in next year there will be a reduction with no commitment as to what the provisions would be.

He said that any ideas or proposals for tax harmonisation couldn’t become policy without our agreement.

“The Independent Referendum Commission confirms that there is no change in relation for the requirement for unanimity of taxation,” he said.

“We have negotiated a position where unanimity is required for direct taxation changes,” he said.

“We are not changing that because we believe that taxation is a fundamental, sovereign decision for the Irish parliament.”

He added that Ireland does not have to join a common EU defence, and that any significant change to the treaty requires a referendum.