Norris bid to halt Fiscal Treaty Bill fails

Senator David Norris today failed in a bid to stop the legislation going through to allow for next month's referendum on the EU Fiscal Compact Treaty.

Senator David Norris today failed in a bid to stop the legislation allowing for next month's referendum on the EU Fiscal Compact Treaty.

Senator Norris tried to stall progression of the Bill in the Seanad this afternoon.

He said that it is not right to be going ahead with the legislation or the treaty, given the results of the first round of the French elections and the crisis in Holland today.

"We have had the collapse of the Dutch government as a result of the withdrawal of one of the partners there, because they cannot afford the €15bn austerity cuts," he said.

"And this is one of the few countries in Europe with a triple-A rating.

"If they can't afford the treaty, how on earth are we supposed to do so?"