Brian Cowen replacing Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach will boost the "yes" campaign in the referendum on the European Union's reform treaty, European Affairs Minister Dick Roche claimed today.
Speaking in Brussels, Minister Roche said: "I think Brian Cowen's appointment gives a whole new prospect to securing a 'yes' vote in the referendum".
"First and foremost, I spoke with Bertie Ahern the day before he resigned ... the whole issue (of Bertie Ahern's finances), the daily dominance of the story was beginning to become a distraction. That is now gone," Minister Roche said.
"And when you get ready to start a campaign and you go door to door, the last thing you need is this type of day by day distraction in the papers."
Minister Roche said under Cowen's stewardship, there was less chance of a repeat of 2001 when voters rejected the Nice Treaty enabling the EU to enlarge, and prompted the government to hold a second successful vote.
"The reality is that under Brian, this will be the very best campaign ever fought in a referendum," Minister Roche said.
Minister Roche reiterated Government anger at comments by France's economy minister earlier this week on EU plans for a common corporate tax base (CCTB) and dismissed chances of a world trade deal in May.
Both issues could threaten to overturn the opinion of Irish business and farmers organisations, who have so far expressed full support for the treaty against the treaty.
"No matter what way they try and bring it in, through the front door, the back door, through the ceiling, CCTB will never happen," Roche said.
Unanimity among the bloc's 27 members is needed on tax matters and some states including Britain and Ireland oppose a common corporate tax base, saying it would be the first step to a common corporate tax rate, something Brussels has denied.
"The French comments were unwelcome and untimely. We have spoke to Mr Sarkozy and we have made it very, very clear ... We have told him and the Commission that this idea has not got a snowball's chance of ever coming to fruition," Roche said.
The minister said Irish farmers had nothing to fear from a possible meeting next month to clinch an outline global trade deal, which would lead to a major cut in farm subsidies.
"Prospects of a WTO deal are very much in question ... I don't think the elements are there for a full and balanced agreement and I would certainly share the view that EU (Trade) Commissioner Peter Mandelson can put any spin he wants on it, but we are not anticipating a deal," Roche said.
Ireland is the only country holding a plebiscite in the 27-member bloc on the new legislation. If rejected it could topple the entire project designed to end years of wrangling over reform of the EU's institutions.