Do not punish Government in Nice vote - Kenny

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, has warned the Irish electorate not to use the Nice Referendum to punish the Government for "taking them for fools".

Speaking at the launch of his party's "Yes to Nice" campaign this afternoon, Mr Kenny said that while there was huge public "fury and outrage" at the latest revelations on Government spending, a retaliation through the ballot box would be inappropriate.

He warned against a "short-sighted" rebuttal of Government policy, saying he strongly urged the public "not to scold themselves by scolding the Government". He said the "electorate will have their day" in the future and accused the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, of having lost touch with public opinion.

Mr Kenny conceded that Ireland will not be thrown out of the European Union or lose any of the advantages of membership it currently enjoys if the referendum is rejected, but he did warn that Irish credibility would be greatly damaged within the central decision making process in Europe.

Mr John Bruton, the party's director of elections, argued that a No vote would lead to the perception within Europe that Ireland was a "problem" country and a "stone in the shoe" of the EU.

The former Taoiseach said the country not only had a moral obligation to express support for Eastern European countries that had escaped "grim totalitarian regimes", but that such support would be beneficial in terms of our trade with these countries post-EU enlargement.

Mr Kenny said the greatest obstacle to the referendum being passed was the public's expressed confusion over elements of the Treaty and its potential impact on Ireland.

Fine Gael was therefore engaged in a series of public question and answer sessions around the country to inform voters on issues such as neutrality, Commissioners, immigration, abortion and the emergence of a European superstate. The campaign is being funded with €150,000 from the party coffers.

"The vast majority of issues raised at our public meetings cannot be ascribed to dingbats or whingers," he said. "These are real concerns from real people." His party was trying not to be "dictatorial" in the campaign, he said.