Government to shun 'scare tactics' in Lisbon campaign

THE GOVERNMENT "will not browbeat anyone", will "not engage in scare tactics" and will not "make outlandish claims" about the Lisbon Treaty but "will highlight the many positive reasons why we ought to vote Yes" in the referendum, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern.

Introducing the 28th Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which paves the way for the referendum to be held on the Lisbon Treaty, Mr Ahern told the Dáil that the treaty was "not a radical document. It does not herald major change, but when implemented, it will represent solid progress."

He stressed that "rightly or wrongly, an Irish No vote would be very negatively interpreted by important political and economic actors, both near and far".

Mr Ahern said that "contrary to what is being suggested by opponents, the treaty does not contain any threat to our vital national interests. Indeed the outcome of the negotiations saw us safeguard those very interests", such as corporate taxation, security and defence and equality of member states.

"Of course there are policy areas and sectors where painful change has been required. However, this change would almost inevitably have been needed even if we had never joined the union." He said that voting Yes "will generate political goodwill - a precious resource - on which Ireland can draw in the future".

Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins said his party "wholeheartedly supports the Bill", and said "it is in our interest and the country's interest that we all support this referendum". Regarding common defence, he stressed that "when the EU unanimously decides, it will be up to Ireland to decide what arrangement or participation we will have and if we participate in common defence, a referendum will be required".

Fine Gael European affairs spokeswoman Lucinda Creighton said "it would certainly serve Fine Gael's short-term political interests to oppose the Bill proposed by and negotiated by the Government. However, we are putting the potential for short-term political opportunism aside in order to put the national interest first."

Labour spokesman Joe Costello welcomed the Bill and said "the phoney war is over and the formal debate has begun in the Oireachtas".

The debate continues.