Voting No to the Nice Treaty does not mean saying no to Europe, according to the Independent MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon, who is among some 58 independent politicians supporting the No campaign.
The Independent TDs, Mr Harry Blaney, Mr Tony Gregory and Mr Seamus Healy, Senator David Norris and over 50 town commissioners and councillors from around the State have backed the former singer who yesterday launched a No position paper in Dublin.
Dana claimed that the group of independent deputies, senators and councillors represented some 300,000 voters who she believed would vote NO to the Treaty.
She said that the electorate had only 21/2 weeks to make up their mind about a treaty that did not have to be ratified for another 18 months.
The Independent MEP for Connacht/Ulster said the treaty would abolish Ireland's veto in 35 areas. "We would have no veto on industrial policy, structural funding, justice, foreign and home affairs."
Mr Tony Gregory, the Independent Dublin Central TD, did not think he was in an "unlikely alliance" with Dana on a No vote to Nice.
"I voted for Charlie Haughey as Taoiseach when I was in the Workers' Party. Wasn't that an unlikely alliance?" he said, adding that the Progressive Democrats and the Labour Party would have very different views on certain issues but were in agreement about supporting the Nice Treaty.
His main difficulty was over militarism. "I don't believe the present Government and Fianna Fail, in particular, can be trusted with anything to do with that aspect of the treaty." When in opposition Fianna Fail said the Partnership for Peace was clearly something that required a referendum and once in Government said that it didn't, Mr Gregory said.
The Irish Cattle Traders and Stockowners Association has called on sheep farmers to vote No. Its Leinster vice-president, Mr John Deegan, said sheep farming had declined under the EU regime and farmers had been ignored, except for new regulations on tagging and paperwork.
