Main parties unite in call for Lisbon support

The leaders of the three main political parties have joined forces to push for a Yes vote in the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum, arguing that ratification of the deal is in Ireland’s best interests.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour’s Eamon Gilmore appeared at a joint press conference in Dublin’s IFSC today calling on voters to put aside party differences and unite to protect Ireland's position within the European Union.

"There are issues where we stand together in the overall national interest and beyond partisan party politics," the Fianna Fáil leader said, adding that the three parties represented 80 per cent of the electorate.

Mr Cowen called on the electorate to do their “patriotic" duty and vote Yes.

He said Ireland had experienced “unimagined progress” since joining the European project in 1973.

A Yes vote was “the best means of driving the country driving to meet the challenges that face us”, while rejection of Lisbon would leave the European Union, and Ireland in particular, facing an “uncertain future”, the Taoiseach said.

All of Ireland’s concerns on issues such as taxation, neutrality and workers rights were copperfastened in the Lisbon accord, he insisted. Contrary to what the No side might say, the Treaty “changes nothing on the tax issue,” he said. The issue of setting our tax rates remains “a matter of national sovereignty.”

“At the end of the day, common sense will be a key determinant. Voters must look at those who are for the treaty and who is against it,” the Taoiseach said. “Any reasonable assessment by Irish people has to lead them to vote Yes.”

Mr Kenny said the treaty was of such importance to Ireland’s future prosperity that it transcended party differences. He was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mr Cowen and Mr Gilmore in order to “send out a strong, coherent message” to voters that the treaty was good for Ireland.

Mr Kenny also hit out at what he called the “downright lies” being spread by anti-treaty campaigners. Claims that Ireland would face no consequences if it rejects Lisbon were "irresponsible and wrong", he warned.

“It is too easy to say you lose money, lose power, lose jobs. All these claims by the No side have been completely discredited. They’re downright lies.”

If we vote No, Ireland's reputation as a committed and influential member of the European project will be tarnished,"

Mr Kenny said. Ireland will send out the message that it is "isolated" from Europe and this will have a negative impact on investment and jobs, he added.

Mr Gilmore urged his party’s supporters to resist “taking a partisan view” and giving the Government a “bloody nose” by voting No. He said this referendum “isn’t the time for the country to throw a wobbly”.

The Labour leader also claimed that none of the arguments being presented by the No side “stood up to scrutiny”. He said those that argue Ireland should attempt to regnotiate Lisbon were "conveniently vague" about what a new deal would be or how it would be acheived.

He also sounded a strong note of caution. "If the treaty is rejected, we do not know what a different deal would yield for Ireland, or what our future in Europe would be," Mr Gilmore said.

Mr Kenny welcomed the results of last weekend's Irish Timespoll, which showed a huge swing in favour of a No vote. He said complacency was the "enemy" in any referendum campaign because, with

the majority of political parties and other social partners calling for a Yes vote, there was a danger those in favour will see the referendum as “passing automatically”.

The rise in No support would mobilise the Yes side to come out and vote, Mr Kenny said. In addition, he said it would encourage undecided voters to inform themselves of the issues at stake. He said he

was confident they would realise supporting the treaty was the correct course of action once they understood its main provisions.

Fianna Fáil will hold its final press conference in the campaign tomorrow.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will be joined by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin and Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, meanwhile, will be joined by four former Fine Gael leaders in Dublin to clal for a Yes vote.

Mr Kenny will be flanked by Michael Noonan, Alan Dukes, Dr Garret FitzGerald and John Bruton.