Minister for Foreign Affairs Micháel Martin today declared the Government was not going to allow the Lisbon treaty debate be dominated by “bogus attacks” on issues such as workers’ rights.
In a statement today, Mr Martin, who is Fianna Fáil’s campaign director, said the debate was now starting to take shape over the past two weeks following the launch of the major referendum campaigns.
“While it is early days, the reaction so far has been that people are interested in having a serious discussion about what this vote means for Ireland’s future. People are asking serious questions about how the concerns they expressed last year have been responded to and what the impact of the result will be,” Mr Martin said.
“While other issues are important, the debate is focusing on the economic dimensions of the vote. What is becoming clear is that people see the choice on the economy as being between standing alone or working with Europe.”
The economic arguments against the treaty have all been based on the idea that the EU is a threat to Ireland, while the Yes arguments have been based on the idea that the EU is essential for Ireland,” Mr Martin said.
“As the debate has unfolded the usual cascade of attacks on the EU and its intentions towards Ireland have been unleashed.” Referring to claims the EU wants to attack the minimum wage Mr Martin said this “is and shall remain" a national issue "and nothing to do with the EU before or after Lisbon”.
“The thing which stands out in the Cóir posters is that even they are not claiming that it will reduce the minimum wage by 80 per cent - what they’ve done is a new low for campaigning. They’ve inserted a question-mark after the statement and are now saying 'we’re just asking the question, not claiming it will happen'".
He said the importance of the issues being debated meant the State could not be afford to be distracted by “this sort of campaigning”.
“I want to make very clear that we have no intention of letting the debate be dominated by bogus attacks. The EU has been behind the significant majority of improvements for workers here and throughout Europe for the last four decades,” he said.
Earlier today, the Minister participated in a radio debate with Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, which is campaigning for a No vote.
