EU referendum called - We reach a decisive moment

Now that a decision has been made to hold a vote on the revised European Union fiscal treaty all who wish to see it ratified by Ireland must work to ensure that everyone entitled to vote in the referendum understands — completely — the consequences of their vote and what their decision means for us and for our children.

Those who would oppose it, rather than just reject it because they are justifiably angry about so many of the ugly, inequitable consequences of losing economic independence, must present a viable, alternative way of financing this bankrupt state. That must be the litmus test of any proposal other than ratification.

This is a dilemma of absolutes — we’re either in or out no matter how unpalatable that limiting reality might be. It is hard to imagine that our European colleagues, so besieged by so many fronts, might demur and make special arrangements for a small member state so utterly dependent on EU financing no matter how draconian the terms attached to those loans.