TD accuses Government of blackmailing public to vote for treaty

Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins has today accused the Government of treason for trying to frighten the public into voting in favour of the European fiscal treaty.

The Dublin West TD said the Government was blackmailing people into a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum by warning the country will have no access to emergency funds from Europe if it rejects the treaty.

“We have Ministers saying the country will not be able to get money from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) if we don’t agree,” said Mr Higgins.

“People are being frightened with a big stick held up to their faces to vote in favour.”

The Socialist Party member accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of signing the treaty last month, knowing the threat of Europe withholding emergency funds would force the public into a Yes vote.

“Taoiseach, isn’t it true that Dáil Éireann must accept this section that money cannot be taken from the fund without accepting the fiscal treaty?” Mr Higgins went on.

“Doesn’t this mean that Fine Gael and Labour backbenchers must come in here and vote to give a big stick to hold over the people? Isn’t that treason for our people?”

But the Taoiseach insisted the public was not being blackmailed and said that adopting the treaty would ensure Ireland access to the ESM should it ever need it.

“We’re not talking about a big stick here. There is no big stick,” said Mr Kenny.

“But in the future the economy will be much strengthened for the country and there will be jobs for the people.”

Mr Kenny signed the treaty last week but it cannot be ratified until the public has a say. No date has been set for the referendum day.

The EU deal, or the European Fiscal Stability Treaty, will see stricter budgetary control from Europe. Ireland’s borrowing and spending will be more closely regulated and penalties will be put in place should it fail to adhere to the strict rules.

Critics argue it is an austerity treaty which rather than bring stability back to Ireland, will plunge it into further economic crisis and result in a second bailout.

But Mr Kenny said he was confident the public would accept the treaty and that doing so will ensure Ireland is back on track by 2019.

“The message is clear: if we accept the treaty we will be able to get money from the ESM if there was any need for it,” he said.

“This isn’t a stick to be beaten with. We’re not frightening anybody. We are having a clear debate, a full debate so everybody in the country will know what we are talking about.”

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar later also insisted there was no blackmail or treason at play. He argued that it was clear the public would benefit more from ratifying the treaty.

However, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore warned last week that Ireland could be cast adrift from Europe should it reject the treaty.