Yes vote in Ireland's 'vital national interest'

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum is in Ireland’s “vital national interest”.

Delivering his first address to the Forum on Europe in Dublin this morning, Mr Cowen said: “I believe in a European Union that believes in Ireland’s future. “I see the respect it shows to Ireland and other smaller countries”, he added. “It is in Ireland’s interest that the Union continues with that”. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour TD Joe Costello spoke afterwards in favour of the Treaty, while Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald said Ireland would lose “very many sensitive vetos” if the Lisbon Treaty was passed. “You claim that at a demand for renegotiation is unrealistic,” she told Mr Cowen.“You and I both know that there is always a ‘Plan B’ in in political life. She said the Government had negotiated “a very poor deal” that “does not enhance Ireland’s standing in Europe”. “There must be a ‘Plan B and the demand for a renegotiation is a real one. I don’t believe people should be scaremongered or bullied into supporting this treaty”, she added. The Yes side received a significant boost yesterday when the executive council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions voted to support the Treaty. At a meeting in Dublin, the council voted 14 to 5 in favour of supporting the treaty. There were 8 abstentions. Congress represents more than 600,000 workers in various unions across the country. Speaking after the vote, Ictu General Secretary David Begg expressed satisfaction that Congress had adopted a clear position on “an issue of major public importance.” However, the State's largest craft union, the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) is advising its 45,000 members to vote No claiming that recent judgments by the European Court of Justice show workers' rights have been sidelined in favour of big business. TEEU general secretary designate Eamon Devoy said: "Some trade union leaders may talk optimistically about the Social Charter and what it might achieve, but recent key judgements by the European Court of Justice show the direction in which the EU is heading, and it is in favour of big business. Today's debate is being broadcast live on the Forum on Europe website at: www.forumoneurope.ie