Canvassing for Lisbon continues

Politicians of all persuasions are out canvassing today on what is the final weekend before voters go to the polls on Friday to decide on the Lisbon referendum.

The Green Party today claimed that the No side was becoming increasingly desperate after some campaigners suggested the Lisbon Treaty would do nothing to aid environmental protection.

Earlier this week, environmentalist, many of them former Green Party members, accused John Gormley of making “spurious claims” that the Lisbon Treaty enhances environmental protection.

However, speaking this morning, the party's European Affairs spokeswoman Senator Deirdre de Burca stated that the No side had not put forward a shred of evidence as to how the Treaty would affect the environment and said "had only their opions to back them up"

“The Lisbon Treaty will have a positive impact on environmental protection and it will empower the EU in the fight against climate change. Anybody that denies this is being dishonest," said Ms de Burca.

“The Lisbon Treaty strengthens the legal base of the EU in relation to environmental matters through Article 37 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 191 of the TFEU dealing with Climate Change, and Article 194 which gives the EU a new competence in the area of energy and prioritises energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources,” she added.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny calle don Irish people to vote Yes in the upcoming referendum and put the country first. Mr Kenny was speaking at the launch of another poster campaign for a Yes vote.

Elsewhere, Labour Party MEP Proinsias De Rossa warned voters against listening to the 'Unholy Alliance' of No campaigners, who claim toknow more about protecting workers' rights than the trade union movements of every EU Member State.

"Separating the facts from their codology is not simple but the reality is that far from posing any threat to workers, the Lisbon Treaty protects and promotes their rights and has been recognised as such by every national affiliate of the European Trade Union Confederation, representing 60 million workers across Europe," said Mr De Rossa.

That the 'unholy alliance' is opposing the incorporation of these significant advances for the people of Europe for their own dubious reasons and creating fear amongst those already fearful for their future is shameful," he added.

Pro-Lisbon campaigners have been buoyed by the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll which showed that support for the Treaty is holding steady.

The latest poll shows that 48 per cent are likely to vote Yes, an increase of two points since the last Irish Timespoll in early September, while 33 per cent say they would vote No, an increase of four points. The number of people in the Don't Know category has dropped by six points to 19 per cent.

However, No campaigners, led by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams today reiterated their belief that the Treaty would be detrimental to Ireland.

Canvassing in Tallaght this morning, Mr Adams has said that a better deal was still possible despite the claims to the contrary from the government and their supporters on the yes side.

“The government and their supporters on the ‘Yes’ side are telling you that a better deal is not possible. I don’t agree. There would not be a Good Friday Agreement if that approach had been adopted," he said.

“Just as a better deal was possible in the Peace Process, a better deal is possible in Europe. A deal based on democracy, equality and prosperity. A deal that replaces the outdated and discredited Lisbon Treaty with a new deal for the new and challenging times in which we find ourselves," he added.