'Lisbon backers put anger at Govt aside'

The Irish electorate put their country ahead of anger at the Government in backing the Lisbon Treaty, it was claimed today.

Yes campaigners maintained Ireland has to be in the heart of Europe to take the country out of a recession securing a massive turnaround from last June at the ballot box.

Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Padraig Walshe said despite enduring very difficult conditions, farmers separated issues with Government policy from the importance of our membership of the European community.

“Farm families have a huge stake in the future of Europe,” said Mr Walshe.

“They recognise the importance of staying at the heart of Europe, and working with our European colleagues to get the best results for the agri-food sector in this country.”

“Farm families were not distracted by bogus claims or false arguments. They know that our Yes vote will best position the IFA to defend Irish agriculture and meet future challenges in Europe.”

Influential lobby group the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) said the decision was good for Ireland and Europe.

Director general Danny McCoy said: “The vote is an important step on the road to economic recovery and the restoration of Ireland’s international reputation.

“Work must now continue on repairing the Irish banking system and bringing order to the public finances.”

Prominent Yes campaigner Pat Cox, a former president of the European Parliament, also claimed the voters of Ireland put their country first.

Mr Cox, who headed the Ireland for Europe campaign group, said: “This was a mature vote in which the Irish people rejected those voices telling them to make the referendum a verdict on the government and on national policies.

“The voters also resisted the Trojan horses that were wheeled into this country bearing British eurosceptics, like the United Kingdom Independence Party, the Open Europe think-tank and the British-owned anti-European media.”

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan denied worried voters were frightened in to accepting the EU reform deal and maintained they simply realised the economic future of the country was with Europe.

But Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore warned the Government the ratification of the treaty had been secured in the national interest and not in support of Fianna Fáil.

“The national interest now requires that this Fianna Fáil government is removed from office as quickly as possible,” said Mr Gilmore.

“During the course of this campaign we found that the biggest single obstacle to securing a Yes vote was public fury at the Fianna Fáil government that has brought this country to the brink of economic ruin,

“The people want Fianna Fáil out. No government can function with any credibility or authority when it enjoys so little support among the majority of voters."