COWEN INTERVIEW:IRELAND WOULD be disadvantaged in Europe if the Lisbon Treaty referendum was defeated, the Taoiseach claimed yesterday.
"If it is not ratified, you will have a great degree of uncertainty as to what the future direction of the EU is going to be," Brian Cowen said.
"Certainly, in terms of the political dynamics, and how we are viewed in the future, it would not be to our benefit and advantage."
Mr Cowen said the Republic did not want those mixed signals to be sent to EU colleagues.
"We are very strongly pro-European in our sentiments as a people, and we are trying to ensure that the full context in which the debate is conducted and the decision is being taken is understood by everybody at home, so that it is not to our disadvantage in the future," he added.
Mr Cowen, who was speaking to journalists while canvassing at Kilbeggan races, said that the referendum represented "plan B".
He added that there was the constitutional treaty, the draft of which was devised during Ireland's EU presidency.
"There were further amendments to strengthen the consensus on the issues during subsequent presidencies," he added.
"We now have this Lisbon Treaty which is the outcome of what has been, again, a degree of discussion and the forging of consensus which has been going on for many years."
This process, said the Taoiseach, had started with the convention, which was a very open and transparent process where all parliaments were represented to bring forward proposals and, subsequently, negotiate through compromise on the part of the various governments.
"None of our red lines have been crossed, and I honestly feel that we should ratify this treaty with a Yes vote on June 12th," he added.
The Taoiseach insisted that the Government was not contemplating the defeat of the referendum. "It is true, I think, to say that getting the referendum passed will facilitate the Lisbon Treaty effectively coming into being," he added.
"Other countries have a parliamentary procedure. There are many issues on which Ireland should come forward with a Yes vote in solidarity with our colleague member states."
Pressed to say if another referendum would follow a No vote, Mr Cowen repeated that he was not contemplating defeat.
"I cannot indicate the outcome in those circumstances. The only certain outcome is that this treaty will not then be ratified," he added. "There are political consequences that flow from that for this country and for the EU generally."
It would not be seen as a very welcome development, said the Taoiseach, "in view of the amount of work and effort and painful compromise that has been established during that long period of discussion".
He added the point of view of the Yes campaign was that it was continuing on with a view to being successful on the day.
Nobody, he said, could give a definitive indication of what the outcome would be if the treaty was not ratified.
"It can only be said that there would be greater uncertainty and greater difficulty about the future direction of the EU. The effect on the decision-making process that this treaty would put in place would not then happen," he added.
"That, clearly, is not in the interest of the EU and not in the interest of Ireland."
Mr Cowen said that the treaty was a balanced deal and good for Ireland.
"It was negotiated and finalised, in the main, during our own presidency. I think we should say a very strong Yes to the treaty on that date," the Taoiseach added.
