The Green Party has today unveiled its Yes campaign for the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, and European affairs spokeswoman Senator Deirdre de Burca attended an event in Dublin this morning to announce the party's campaign.
Speaking in the Goethe Institute, Mr Gormley said Ireland had much to gain by endorsing the treaty and pointed to the EU’s support for Ireland in its financial difficulties as just one practical example.
“The Lisbon Treaty will also enable the EU to take much-needed common action on protecting the environment and co-operating in the fight against climate change and promoting energy security,” Mr Gormley said.
He said the Government had worked hard to address voters’ concerns and got the support of other EU governments. “We have secured important guarantees on taxation, defence and foreign policy, certain social issues and defence and foreign policy.”
Ms Burca said the Lisbon Treaty would continue the EU’s role in helping to improve Irish workers’ rights, especially the rights of women workers.
“The EU has been responsible for Irish legislation on equal pay, non-discrimination and parental leave. The Lisbon Treaty builds on this by ensuring gender issues will be considered in all EU activities,” she said.
According to a the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll published today, Green Party supporters are significantly out of tune with their party on the issue with 36 per cent intending to vote No and 31 per cent Yes, despite the party’s decision at a special convention to support Lisbon.
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour unveiled their pro-Lisbon campaigns over recent days.