The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for the Government to delay ratification of the EU fiscal treaty.
Congress general secretary David Begg said if Ireland is unable to postpone the referendum, it should at least give assurances that it will delay the ratification of the treaty until the end of the year
Speaking at the Communications Workers' Union conference in Galway today, Mr Begg said the treaty contained a "poison pill".
"No matter what claims are made for it, I cannot see that the treaty will cure any of the causes of the crisis. The problem is though that it contains a poison pill: if you don't sign the treaty you can't get access to the European Stability Mechanism."
He said the Government should pledge full support for new French president François Hollande, who is seeking a deal on a European growth pact.
“In the meantime they should stand four square behind Hollande and assist him in every way possible to achieve his stated objective of a growth strategy,” said Mr Begg.
Mr Begg said the Government should make growth and investment the theme of the EU presidency. "Ireland has been a poster child of globalisation and, more recently, a poster child of austerity. Let us seize the opportunity to be a beacon of something positive for a change."
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has again dismissed suggestions the May 31st referendum should be postponed.
Pressed again today on what impact the election of new French president François Hollande and the decision by the German parliament to defer voting on the EU treaty will have on the Irish vote, Mr Kenny said: "As we are in a programme, investors and potential investors outside this country are looking at Ireland now as part of Europe. They want certainty, they want decisiveness, they want a clear horizon.
"I don't want to damage that in any way. So the sooner we are in a position to give a clear signal about our own future, the sooner we are in a position to have continued certainty of investment coming into the country," Mr Kenny said in Dublin today.
"This is our decision, it is not any other country's decision: it is for the Irish electorate and the Irish electorate alone. I expect that when they are fully informed, as they will be, about the magnitude and the importance of this decision that they will give it a resounding Yes in the interests of the country, our people and their children's future."
The new French president will travel to Berlin on Tuesday to discuss proposals for a deal on a European growth pact. While Mr Hollande acknowledged this week that kick-starting European economies through extra spending was out of the question, any agreement between him and German chancellor Angela Merkel will pave the way to the EU summit on growth on May 23rd.
When asked what practical initiatives could be expected to emerge from the EU summit, Mr Kenny replied: "I don't have the agenda obviously, other than that it is an informal summit called to deal with a growth agenda for Europe. There are a number of areas in there in which Ireland has a leading position.
"Clearly from the comments by other leaders abroad, they now are clear that there should be a growth agenda in addition to what is already agreed. We will participate in that enthusiastically," Mr Kenny said.
The Bundestag, which was originally scheduled to vote on the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the fiscal compact on May 25th, will now not hold a vote until at least mid-June.
Sinn Féin has accused the Government of distributing "deliberately misleading information" in the referendum booklet.
Health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the booklet does not detail the implications of the treaty’s new enforcement and punishment mechanisms.
"This week the Government has distributed their information booklet which claims to provide balanced and objective information on the treaty. While the booklet does not advocate a Yes vote it fails to explain the full consequences of key elements of the treaty," Mr Ó Caoláin said.
"In particular it deliberately fails to mention the consequences for our economic sovereignty arising from the enforcement and punishment mechanisms contained in Articles 5 and 8."
He called on the Government to explain the consequences of giving new powers to the European Commission and European Court of Justice and how these powers will affect future budgets.
The CWU earlier backed a Yes vote in the referendum. "The cumulative impact of successive austerity budgets on ordinary working families, compounded by the irresponsibly and opportunistic actions of some of our leading business brands towards their workers, has confused the serious issues at stake in this treaty," said general secretary Steve Fitzpatrick. "However, following careful consideration of the issues by our conference this morning, including a presentation from David Begg, conference has decided to back a Yes vote."
