Gilmore promises information campaign over stability treaty

A “COMPREHENSIVE information campaign” will be put in place for the European stability treaty referendum which will take place on Thursday, May 31st, the Tánaiste has told the Dáil.

Eamon Gilmore said legislation to allow the referendum would be published by the weekend and then a Referendum Commission would be established. Mr Gilmore said people would be asked to agree to insert a subsection into the Constitution, stating: “The State may ratify the Treaty on Stability, Co-ordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union done at Brussels on the 2nd day of March 2012. “No provision of this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, Acts done or measures adopted by the State that are necessitated by the obligations of the State under that treaty or prevents laws enacted, Acts done or measures adopted by bodies competent under the treaty from having the force of law in the State.”

He said the Government would ensure people were fully informed about the treaty, and this would “facilitate a full debate on the decision that we as a country have to take on this issue”.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said his party would support and campaign for ratification of the treaty. It was not a panacea, he said, and other measures were required to bring stability. He said it was “crucial” that maximum information was provided.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said it was a bad treaty for Ireland and the EU which would “institutionalise austerity” and cost taxpayers at least an additional €6 billion in public spending cuts and tax increases after 2015.

Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said the referendum debate would “demonstrate clearly that permanent austerity is proposed”, and “further disastrous damage will be caused to the domestic economy”.