McGrath confirms he will vote Yes

TREATY DEBATE:INDEPENDENT TD Finian McGrath has confirmed he will now vote Yes in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

The Dublin North-Central TD, who voted No in the last Lisbon referendum, said that “Lisbon II is a step in the right direction” and it was “time for change”. He was “furious at the current political and banking situation, but I am holding my nose and putting on my jersey for Ireland.”

Last week Mr McGrath said he did not know which way he would vote on October 2nd, but he urged people to examine the treaty on its merits.

He said yesterday: “I wanted firm and legal guarantees. I also wanted a commitment to a protocol. We now appear to have achieved these objectives. There is now a package of legally-binding guarantees on the table.”

He still had “major concerns about Lisbon and the activities of some in the European Union. However, this will not stop me making a decision that is in the interest of the Irish people”.

Describing the second Lisbon referendum as a “step in the right direction” Mr McGrath said: “we appear to remain in control of our own tax rates, Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality seems to be guaranteed and there is a solemn declaration making clear the importance of workers’ rights and public services.”

Mr McGrath, the late Independent Dublin Central TD Tony Gregory and Sinn Féin opposed the treaty last year.

Mr Gregory’s successor in Dublin Central Maureen O’Sullivan TD said yesterday she was a “definite No the last time, but I haven’t made up my mind 100 per cent this time”.

Sinn Féin remains opposed to the treaty. The party’s Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin told the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs yesterday the main political parties are attempting to “scare” people into voting Yes. “We are told that if we vote no we will lose investment, jobs, and support from our EU counterparts.”

He said the policies of governments across Europe had caused the current economic downturn. “Many of these failed right-wing politicians were responsible for negotiating the treaty and many of their failed right-wing policies are contained in the treaty,” he said.