STEVEN CARROLL's referendum notebook:A NEW "citizen's guide" to both the fiscal and European Stability Mechanism (ESM) treaties has been published by a legal expert who testified at the Irish Supreme Court in the case which resulted in all major European treaties having to be put to a referendum of the Irish people.
Joe Noonan acted as an expert witness on foreign and security policy for the late Raymond Crotty when Mr Crotty brought an appeal to the Supreme Court in 1987 which decided that the Single European Act should be put to the Irish people by way of a referendum.
Along with fellow solicitor Mary Linehan, he has prepared A Tale of Two Treaties which contains an introduction to the content of each treaty and explains how the two treaties are linked.
The guide also includes a glossary explaining some of the many EU acronyms, including ESM, EFSF, EFSM, TEU, TFEU and TSCG (or Treaty on Stability, Co-ordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, to give the fiscal treaty its full title).
The guide can be accessed at taleoftwotreaties.tumblr.com
TV3 invites Kenny to take part in debate - again
TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny yesterday said the fiscal treaty referendum was more important than a general election.
TV3 is hoping he is true to his word as it has invited Mr Kenny and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams to square off in a head-to-head Yes vs No debate just two days before the vote.
Before the 2011 general election, TV3 invited Mr Kenny, Eamon Gilmore and Micheál Martin to participate in a leaders debate but Mr Kenny declined, saying he would not appear in any debate chaired by TV3 presenter Vincent Browne over a remark the journalist had made about suicide.
Mr Browne has again been selected to chair the debate so it remains to be seen if Mr Kenny has changed his stance.
“The decision to stage the debate follows calls by both leaders for a platform to be made available to allow advocates of the Yes and No campaigns to air their views in public,” TV3 said. “We are confident the Taoiseach will do the right thing and attend.”
Sinn Féin said last night that Mr Adams was “ready and willing to debate the austerity treaty with An Taoiseach and we await, with interest, his response”.
A Government spokesman said the offer was being “considered”.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“It’s the Irish people’s decision alone. It’s not any other country, any other nationality or any other people who are voting.” – The Taoiseach says Irish people should vote for themselves and not wider Europe
REFERENDUM ONLINE:
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and Sinn Féin TD and deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald debate the treaty in an irishtimes.comdebate moderated by Harry McGee: iti.ms/JUmGG6
Tweet: Stephen Donnelly TD = @DonnellyStephen
Don't Forget: Voter Registration for #EUref closes on Monday, May 14th. Take two minutes to be sure you are registered: bit.ly/h8gSOM