Tánaiste rules out delay in treaty referendum

The Government has today rebuffed another attempt to delay the vote on the EU Fiscal Treaty.

Independent TD Shane Ross put forward legislation in the Dáil that would allow the coalition to delay the referendum.

However, the Tánaiste said that the move is just an extreme measure by the Dublin South TD to delay declaring his stance on the vote.

"What do you think investors are going to do?" said the Tánaiste.

"I attended a meeting yesterday morning, organised by the American Chamber of Commerce - a hundred senior executives of American companies who are investing here.

What kind of report do you think they would send back to their headquarters if I was to say to them: 'We're postponing the referendum, we're going to see what way the wind is blowing'?"