Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has described the fiscal treaty as a "cushion" that will give Ireland access to the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).
Ms Burton was speaking at a Labour women event in Dublin this morning, when she made a particular appeal to women to vote Yes to the treaty.
"It's a cushion, a safety net. I think there's every good reason for voters...to focus on the fact that agreeing to pass the treaty actually gives us access to the ESM," said Ms Burton, who is Labour's director of elections in the fiscal treaty referendum.
"Particularly women are treating this referendum with great seriousness because at the end of the day they have to make the best decisions for themselves, their families and their communities."
Ms Burton said Ireland needed to ensure the Government had money to pay for what she described as "this humane social welfare system".
She said one of the main reasons multi-national companies continued to locate in Ireland was because they believed the State was committed to the European Union.
Ms Burton said "we hope and intend to say goodbye to the Troika" and borrow money in the "normal way". However, she added: "But what if circumstances mean that we can't".
Ms Burton was joined by Labour MEPs Nessa Childers, Emer Costello and Phil Prendergast.
