Nice rejection would be a disaster, says Bruton

A second rejection of the Nice Treaty would be "an absolute disaster for Ireland," Fine Gael TD Mr John Bruton said today.

At the unveiling of the party's policy on Europe, Mr Bruton said a rejection would mean Ireland would lose influence on policy issues such as crime, health protection, economics, and agriculture. The former taoiseach said Ireland would also loose investment.

If Ireland were not in the European Union, we would be sitting outside Europe's door waiting for others to tell us what had been decided inside Fine Gael TD Mr John Bruton said today

"Securing the endorsement of the Irish people of the Nice Treaty will be the first major political task of the new government to be formed after this General Election," he said.

He called on the other parties to join with Fine Gael to "inject a bit of realism into this General Election.

"It is time for Bertie Ahern, Mary Harney, and Ruairí Quinn to join with Fine Gael and lay out in simple terms the real consequences of a second No to Nice and the real reasons why the Irish people should change their mind.

"If Ireland were not in the European Union, we would be sitting outside Europe's door waiting for others to tell us what had been decided inside," he said.