SEANAD REPORT:SOME POLITICIANS arguing for a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum seemed to be starting the blame game for its likely defeat, Pearse Doherty (SF) said.
While certain individuals were blaming the Government for not doing enough to promote the treaty, others were criticising Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dick Roche, and wanted him sacked from leading the campaign.
The reality was that people on the Yes side were beginning to understand that the misinformation being issued would not work, said Mr Doherty.
Earlier, Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, warned that the treaty would be “lost” if the Government did not campaign strongly for it. “It’s going to be an assertion by the people that the Government are out of touch and have not tackled this issue coherently.
Eugene Regan (FG) said it was evident that there was a lack of information and a certain apathy about the treaty and the referendum. Mr Roche, who was leading the campaign had said that a defeat of the Treaty would be a disaster for Ireland and for Europe. “That frightens people and is considered arrogant . . . It needs to be explained to people what is in the Treaty. The mis-information which has been put out by the No campaign has raised genuine concerns about Europe and certain aspects of it. They are the genuine concerns with which we have to engage, rather than tell people they must vote Yes because to do otherwise would be a disaster for Europe.”
Terry Leyden (FF) urged that Environment Minister John Gormley consider using e-voting machines for the referendum, arguing that the speedy result within hours of the close of polling would not keep 500 million Europeans waiting for the outcome.
This approach to the conduct of the poll would be a wonderful indication of how progressive we were.