Sinn Féin has criticised Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny for declining to rule out the possibility of a third vote on the Lisbon Treaty if next week’s referendum is defeated and in the event of him becoming taoiseach.
Addressing the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee, Mr Kenny said today he did not contemplate defeat of the referendum and was confident that the electorate would vote to adopt the treaty.
He told the joint committee that the “referendum afforded Irish people an opportunity to reaffirm our support for the European process and to send a clear and positive signal to the people of Europe that this country is committed to playing a central role in shaping the future direction of Europe”.
But Sinn Féin senator Pearse Doherty described Mr Kenny’s refusal to rule out a third referendum on Lisbon as an “affront to democracy”.
Mr Doherty said: “We now have the ludicrous prospect that if Fine Gael were to be returned to government there could be a third referendum on Lisbon.
“This demonstrates that Fine Gael has no intention of listening to the will of the people and raises questions regarding that party’s suitability for government,” he said.
In his opening statement to the committee, Mr Kenny called on people who were angry at the performance of the Government to put aside their anger and vote for the country and not against the Government.
“This referendum is about the future of the country, not the future of the Government,” he said.
Mr Kenny said at this time of economic uncertainty, “with unemployment rapidly rising, tax revenues collapsing, and a record budget deficit in prospect, it is more important than ever that Ireland strengthens its place in the EU”.
With just over a week to the referendum, the Fine Gael leader said the country had a responsibility to ensure that the campaign debate remained honest and rational. He claimed there had already been many false and spurious arguments made by anti-Lisbon groups.
Referring to the Cóir poster claiming the minimum wage would drop below €2 in the event of a Yes vote, Mr Kenny said the poster was designed to frighten and confuse people, and “the truth is that Europe has no role whatsoever in setting the minimum wage in Ireland or in any other country”.