WITH THE Lisbon Treaty referendum just over two weeks away, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has challenged Fine Gael and Labour to intensify their campaigns for a Yes vote, writes DEAGLÁN DE BRÉADÚN, Political Correspondent
In a comment believed to be mainly aimed at Fine Gael, he said he wanted to see the same level of support for the treaty in other parties who have "the same vocation to the European idea as we have". Mr Cowen was speaking after newly-released poll results yesterday showed Fine Gael voters evenly divided between the Yes and No side, while an absolute majority of Fianna Fáil voters were supporting the treaty.
A similar comment was made by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan when he was asked a question about Mr Cowen's alleged "dictatorial" style of leadership. "He has overwhelming support among the Fianna Fáil voters for a Yes vote, so I hope the Opposition parties will be a little dictatorial with their own electorates and ensure that what we all agree is in Ireland's interests will happen, a Yes vote."
However, Fine Gael enterprise, trade and employment spokesman Leo Varadkar accused Fianna Fáil of having prepared a "cowardly" strategy of blaming the main Opposition party in the event of a referendum defeat. "It is very obvious that in the event of a referendum defeat, Fianna Fáil's cowardly PR strategy will be to blame Fine Gael. They are putting out this 'spin' for a few weeks now.
"A lot of our supporters are voting No because they are angry with the conceit and arrogance of the Taoiseach and the Government."
Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche rejected Mr Varadkar's claims as "unhelpful and absolutely untrue", but he added that it was clear from polling that within Fine Gael's core group, there was "still a lot of work to be done".
Meanwhile, Green Party Ministers weighed in with appeals for a Yes vote. Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan highlighted the importance of the treaty in relation to energy security and climate change. "We are utterly dependent on our fellow EU member states for energy security," he told The Irish Times. "Ninety per cent of our gas comes from other EU countries."
Stressing the need to ensure a supply of gas, oil and electricity for Ireland's basic needs, he said: "We have no ability to provide such security for our people in the absence of co-operation from Europe."
His experience at EU level showed that "it is the only progressive forum in which the issues of energy security and climate change are being tackled".
"I have a real dread that failing to get this treaty through would cripple this whole climate change and energy security initiative."
Stressing that it was a personal view, he said: "As we face into a peak in global oil production, we can only provide ourselves with energy security through the European process."
Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the Greens had criticised the EU in the past for being a top-down organisation, but this was being addressed in the treaty. "A key reason for my decision to support the Lisbon Treaty is that it takes important steps towards remedying this. These include more direct lawmaking powers for the European Parliament and more supervisory powers for the Dáil and other national parliaments," he said.
Green Party Senator Deirdre de Búrca accused her party colleague Patricia McKenna of failing to make it clear she was not representing the Greens when she spoke against the treaty. Denying the claim, Ms McKenna said she did not wish to get into a "mudslinging match".
"Anywhere I am speaking, I am introduced as chair of the People's Movement or speaking on behalf of the Campaign Against the EU Constitution," she added.
A poll on the treaty in the Sunday Business Postyesterday showed the Yes vote at 41 per cent, up three points, the No vote at 33, up five, and the don't knows down eight points at 26 per cent.