A DEFEAT for the Lisbon Treaty in next month's referendum would cause "chaos" in the European Union and damage Ireland's own interests, Green Party Minister Eamon Ryan claimed yesterday.
Urging a Yes vote, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said the treaty was "not a bitter pill", but rather a document that protected Ireland's interests and would allow the EU to tackle global crises.
As the campaign entered its final two weeks, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore urged voters not to give into a "natural temptation" to use the Lisbon referendum to give the Government "a kicking". Mr Gilmore said people who were "understandably" unhappy with the Government's record might use the opportunity presented by the referendum to "vote 'against' the Government.
"I would urge anyone considering this course of action to think the issue through and to recognise that voting against Lisbon in order to get at the Government would truly be a case of 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'," he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny again criticised the Taoiseach as the fall-out continued from Mr Cowen's remarks at the weekend concerning the parties' campaigns.
Mr Kenny said the Taoiseach's clarification about the remarks, in which he urged the Opposition to "crank up" their Lisbon Treaty campaigns, "lacked generosity".
Mr Cowen has said his comments were misinterpreted as a criticism of the Fine Gael and Labour campaigns and declined in the Dáil on Tuesday to apologise for them.
"It's not just about Fine Gael supporters who are campaigning for a Yes vote. We were all done down by these remarks," Mr Kenny said yesterday, during an early canvass of voters in St Stephen's Green, Dublin.
Mr Ryan told The Irish Timesyesterday that he understood "a lot of the concerns" of the No camp in the Lisbon campaign.
"But I would argue that on balance I believe it is in the interest of this country, and that it would be very damaging to the interests of this country if we don't ratify the treaty." Acknowledging that the campaign "is still up for grabs", he said a No vote from farmers concerned about world trade talks would not strengthen Ireland's hand.
"Then you would have to ask what deal we are going to get in that regard if we are seen to be putting a real block on the reform and upgrading of the EU. My political assessment is that we would be hammered," he said.
Eastern European member states looked to Ireland as their model and a partner: "We work quite well with them. We are very well placed to influence the European project and how it evolves and develops. If we put a stick in the whole process and cause real chaos, I think, then I see we have no influence," he said.
Mr Ryan also rejected the idea that a "Plan B" existed that would be produced if Ireland voted No. A rejection would scupper the European Union's attempts to set down hugely significant new energy targets.
"I would love to know what the Plan B is. I see [a rejection] as very chaotic at a time when we don't need chaos. At a time when there are crucial climate change negotiations going through that have to be agreed by the end of this year." An EU plan to cut carbon emissions significantly, though agreed already by heads of government, must pass MEPs and the Council of Ministers by year's end.
"Derailing the whole process into an alternative Plan B is only going to delay that crucial work, and I don't know what Plan B is," Mr Ryan said.
Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche also insisted yesterday there was no "Plan B" when he said there would be no second referendum on the treaty.
"The Government has made it clear that there is no possibility for a second referendum on this treaty. The fact of the matter is that there is no Plan B," he said in a statement.