Nice No vote ‘will isolate us in Europe’
Attacking No campaigners as "Little Irelanders" and as people who had never "created a single job," IBEC president Maurice Pratt and director general Turlough O'Sullivan appealed for business and individuals to vote Yes. Ireland's self-interest clearly pointed us in this direction, they told reporters at the launch in their Dublin headquarters. Mr O'Sullivan said a Yes vote was of critical importance for Ireland, for our economy and for Irish business.
He said IBEC had watched "in amazement" last year as "anonymous and undeclared" forces "blitzed" the streets with misleading claims.
The planning for the IBEC campaign went back a full year and the public would know exactly how it was funded and by whom. The business leader was sharply critical of the Government, accusing it of mishandling the first referendum on Nice. He admitted the employers' organisation was worried that the treaty might again be rejected.
"Obviously we are gravely concerned that the referendum might go down again and that is why we have decided to enter the campaign with such enthusiasm."
Mr O'Sullivan said IBEC was "heartened" that things seemed to be "more together" this time round.
"But we are not leaving it to chance," he added. "It would be absolutely appalling if Ireland does not see itself at the centre of decision-making in the EU. We have punched well above our weight to date."
In a prepared speech, Mr Pratt said Irish people had voted strongly in favour of our development within the EU. But a year ago, many of those on the Yes side, particularly those in the political process, took this support for granted and lulled themselves into thinking people would vote again as they had in the past. The lack of a strong information campaign and accessible information had left a vacuum, which was filled by the No campaign.
"We see one overwhelming reason for a Yes. A larger Europe will give us a single internal market of 500 million people, boosting trade and, therefore, promoting employment. The history of the last 50 years has shown us that every time we get onto a bigger pitch, we succeed. Free trade suits us. Isolation did not." Mr Pratt added that IBEC knew how to create jobs.
"I am not aware of any leading figure on the No side of this campaign who has ever created a single job.
"We can argue over the legal niceties, but one thing is certain if Ireland says No to the treaty this time, enlargement of the European Union will at best be extraordinarily difficult and certainly it will be delayed." The wide-ranging administrative changes proposed by Nice would be necessary in practical terms to allow the EU serve a much wider, more diverse and more culturally rich population, Mr Pratt added. IBEC has already appealed to its 7,000 members to help fund the campaign, which will include posters and a series of glossy brochures and booklets.
Its members have received a guide to the treaty and were urged to use this, in conjunction with the IBEC publication Nice Explained: 50 questions and answers on Europe and the Treaty of Nice in discussion with more than half a million employees. Mr O'Sullivan said that "several hundred" IBEC members have responded with funding to date. IBEC will host a conference on September 20 to facilitate debate on the issues surrounding Nice.
Further information at www.ibec.ie and www.nicetreaty.ie.
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