AIB group chief executive Mr Michael Buckley has criticised the Irish business community for failing to support a Yes vote in the Nice Treaty and for a general apathy in relation to Government policy and other issues.
Mr Buckley warned yesterday that a rejection of the treaty would never be forgotten by our European partners and the states seeking entry to the EU, and would make the future business environment more difficult for the Republic.
"We in business need to think about our responsibilities on these issues. We have also become more passive in relation to issues of Government policy and delivery that are having a profound effect on the climate for business. Are we right to abdicate any role in opinion leadership in this country?" he asked.
While acknowledging that the main business organisations had made their views known on the Nice Treaty, Mr Buckley's criticism was largely directed at business people, suggesting they should be publicly airing their views. "If business people have such a corporate and economic interest in these issues, why are we so silent?"
Addressing members of the American Chamber of Commerce, Mr Buckley warned that a rejection of the Nice Treaty would damage the Republic's interests in the future. "The applicant countries will see our vote as a selfish and shortsighted rejection of their legitimate aspirations to better living standards; it is something they will never forget." When these states ultimately gained entry to the EU, a negative vote by the Republic now would make it more difficult to deal with newcomers, who should be this State's natural allies, Mr Buckley said.
The Republic would also lose a great deal of goodwill among its current EU partners, who would not understand the vote and would be irritated by the need for a renegotiation of the treaty, he added.
"The idea that we could swing more things our way under the existing voting system than under the new system is theoretically correct, but would be irrelevant in practice. What matters now and in the future is our ability to create alliances and partnerships to pursue agendas that will help to create a more dynamic business environment in the EU."
Other issues where the business community had been too quiet related to Northern Ireland and British elections, he suggested. The peace process in Northern Ireland had delivered great benefits to Irish businesses. "Business has an interest in supporting the centre ground on both sides of the community in their efforts to reach a lasting settlement. Again I ask, why is that interest not expressed more in public by business people?"
On the British elections, Mr Buckley suggested that most Irish businesses would wish to see Britain enter the euro as soon as possible. The "save the pound" policy was inimical to the interests of the Republic, Irish business and those who did business in Britain and wished to see it remain strong and prosperous, he said.
