THE PROSPECT of changes in the EU fiscal treaty after the French presidential election made the current referendum “slightly academic” and “nonsensical”, campaigners against the treaty have said.
Socialist Party TD Clare Daly said that in the event of François Hollande winning tomorrow’s election he would be “under pressure to deliver some change”.
“That does mean, in terms of the debate here, that it is somewhat maybe slightly academic that we’re voting on a treaty which is probably going to be dramatically altered.”
She was speaking at a press conference in Dublin yesterday held by the Campaign Against Austerity Treaty which brings different left-wing and republican organisations together to oppose the treaty.
Padraig Mannion of the Workers’ Party said it was undemocratic to be having a referendum now when another one would be required in three months as the treaty would have changed.
“It is clearly nonsensical,” he said, as it was more than likely Mr Hollande would win the French election and have the text altered.
“The treaty that will be implemented will be different than the treaty we are ratifying. So therefore we will have ratified a treaty that is not coming into force.”
Ms Daly said she was “optimistic” about a No victory because of the numbers of people already involved in campaigns against the household charge, cutbacks and other measures.
“People already actively engaged in the battle against austerity – why would those people then turn around and vote for a treaty that enshrines it?”
The press conference was chaired by artist Robert Ballagh. A statement opposing the treaty signed by Sinn Féin, Independent and Socialist TDs and a number of trade unionists and academics was presented at the event.
Director of the Sinn Féin campaign Eoin Ó Broin said: “If the Government requires emergency funding in 2014 the EU will provide that funding.” After the referendum the Government would have a veto over the final form of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) because all 27 member states would have to ratify a change to the European treaties.
There was “no way” that the Government could ratify an emergency funding vehicle that it may not be able to access itself.
The “sole mandate” of the ESM was to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as a whole, and therefore legally obliged to provide emergency funding to Ireland regardless of the referendum result.
“So EU law will dictate that the funds will be available; political and economic logic will dictate that the funds will be available,” Mr Ó Broin said.
On the position of Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív, who has come out against the treaty, he said: “He has a little bit of a cheek suggesting that he is now opposing the austerity that he had a hand and part in creating.”
He said a lot of people were cynical about the stance taken by Mr Ó Cuív believing it was “more about his position within Fianna Fáil” than genuine opposition to the treaty.
