Taoiseach confident of treaty ratification

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern named June as the month for the referendum on the latest EU treaty, confounding pundits who expected a May date.

He expressed confidence that it will not turn into a vote of confidence in him following disclosures over his finances at the Mahon Tribunal.

The cabinet approved the bill for the referendum shortly before Mr Ahern left for an official visit to three EU countries, starting with current EU presidency holder Slovenia.

“Very shortly we will publish the legislation and the bill to set up the Referendum Commission and we will ratify it in parliament April, and then go to the people in June probably. That is the present plan,” he said in Slovenia last evening.

Following a meeting with the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Mr Ahern said he was very confident of a “yes” vote, saying he expected Ireland to ratify the treaty before Slovenia’s presidency ends in June.

The wording that will be on the voting paper will have a reference similar to the second vote on the Nice Treaty, reaffirming Ireland’s neutrality and prohibiting Irish participation in a EU common defence plan, a government statement said.

Asked if there was a danger that his tribunal appearances would turn the referendum into a vote on him, the Taoiseach said: “I do not think that will be the case because obviously in the Dáil, practically all the political parties will be on the ‘yes’ side so it is important that we keep our focus on this issue that is hugely important to 500 million people who want us to get a ‘yes’ vote and we have to keep it on that issue.”

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked people not to express their feelings against the Taoiseach by voting “no” in the referendum while Green leader John Gormley, complained that Mr Ahern’s tribunal appearances were becoming a distraction to the work of government.

Sinn Féin is the only political party campaigning for a “no” vote so far, mostly on the basis that the treaty undermines Irish neutrality.

Announcing cabinet approval for the amendment bill, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said it was an important step in the process that will see the Irish people pass judgment on the Reform Treaty and on Ireland’s role in the EU.

“The proposed legislation reflects principles which the Irish people hold dear and which the Government views as vital for Ireland,” he told the Dáil.

“It maintains the ban on Irish participation in an EU common defence. This prohibition will remain, in plain black and white, for all to see. Those who may continue to argue that the treaty will somehow undermine Irish neutrality are badly mistaken. The bill makes it completely clear that we cannot join a EU common defence.”

Mr Ahern pointed out that the treaty gives national parliaments a much greater role in approving EU legislation before governments or the European Parliament.