Past and present Fine Gael leaders gathered in Dublin this morning to urge the Irish people to vote Yes in Thursday's referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Warning against complacency, the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny said Thursday "is a moment of truth" for Ireland, but he expressed confidence that the treaty will be passed.
The No campaign has issued "false, baseless and unfounded" allegations for months that have been difficult for the Yes campaign to deal with, but he insisted that those arguments have been rebutted now.
ignore any false claims that have been repeated over and over again in an attempt to confuse and mislead people. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny
Mr Kenny was joined by former taoisigh, Garret Fitzgerald and John Bruton, who is attending an EU meeting in Slovenia today but who had prepared a video message, and former leaders, Alan Dukes and Michael Noonan.
Acknowledging that the Government's campaign was slow to start, Mr Kenny insisted that the mood had turned following last Friday's Irish Times poll. "People know that they have to vote for it if they want it passed."
Mr Bruton said the Treaty will allow the EU to tackle international criminals and cope with mounting challenges on climate change and protect Ireland's access to fuel in coming years. Though the treaty is complex, Mr Bruton urged voters to remember that legal documents usually are. "You wouldn't prepare your own deed of conveyance for house. You would hire a solicitor to do it for you”, he said.
Dr Fitzgerald, said the campaign had "started late. Those who have tried to defeat it have had a long time to convey their arguments. It is easier to worry people than to assure them.
"The Yes campaign has brought things around in the last 10 days. I think now that it will probably be alright."
Mr Noonan said he had believed up to the time of the publication of the Irish Times poll that the Yes campaign was in trouble, but he was confident now that support for the treaty is rising.
Urging Fine Gael voters, a substantial section of whom have been doubtful at best up to now about the treaty, Mr Kenny said: "As we prepare to cast our votes, I urge people to focus on the facts as they decide on this momentous decision for Ireland's future.
“I ask you to ignore any false claims that have been repeated over and over again in an attempt to confuse and mislead people. It is very regrettable that totally untrue arguments about taxation, abortion, neutrality and even euthanasia have been put before the Irish people.
“I urge people to evaluate the credibility of the groups that have made these false claims who are completely at variance with the facts as confirmed by the Referendum Commission and by the elected representatives of the vast majority of the Irish people. The truth is that Lisbon will not create any new powers for the European Union and we have nothing to be fearful about in approving it."
