TDs to pressure President for treaty referendum

The Dáil's Technical Group of TDs are to petition the President for a referendum on the new EU treaty if the Attorney General says there is no legal requirement for one.

The petition will ask President Michael D Higgins to envoke a never-before-used Article of the Constitution to forego any signing of the law of the Bill and to refer it to the Irish people instead.

Article 27 of the Constitution dictates that the President can refer a Bill to referendum provided at least one third of the Dáil and the majority of the Seanad support it.

The group of 16 TDs, made up of Independents and the United Left Alliance, has called on other members of the Oireachtas to support them.

Independent TD Mick Wallace later shot down claims earlier this week by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar that the electorate would not understand the intricacies of the treaty well enough to make an informed decision in a referendum.

“The notion that the people are not clued in to what’s happening is not true,” said Mr Wallace.

“I’ve been amazed by the level of interest and the level of knowledge people have all over the country about this present crisis.

“If this Government thinks it has a strong enough mandate to put forward, then it has to put it to the people.”

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said it was insulting and undemocratic to imply that members of the public are not smart enough to have their say.

“What will the next move be? To do away with elections altogether because the people won’t understand them?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Independent TD Shane Ross criticised the Taoiseach's claims that the treaty will stimulate growth.

“He says this is an austerity and stimulus programme,” said Mr Ross.

“If anybody can tell me how these two can be reconciled, I think they should be sent to heaven immediately,” he said.