Independents warn of 'serious risk' of No vote

WICKLOW TD Joe Behan, who resigned from the Fianna Fáil organisation last autumn, has said there is a “serious risk” of a No vote in the upcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum.

He was speaking at the launch of the “Independents For A Yes Vote” campaign, hosted by North West MEP Marian Harkin and Senator Joe O’Toole.

“It’s a lot closer than people realise. Issues domestically are very much on people’s minds at the moment. Nama, Bord Snip, the Commission on Taxation, that’s what people are talking about, not Lisbon,” Mr Behan said.

“And the reality of it is that unless we can convince people to try and look long-term at our future as a country – as distinct from what a lot of people want to do, which is punish the Government for actions that they have been taking and are threatening to take – I think there’s a very serious risk of this being a No vote.”

The event was also attended by Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry and Senators Shane Ross and Feargal Quinn. Kerry South TD Jackie Healy-Rae sent his apologies. Former Clare TD James Breen and former Monaghan TD Paudge Connolly also attended, as did Cllr Dave O’Connor from Fingal, Cllr Catherine Murphy from Kildare and Cllr Declan McPartland from Wexford.

The costs of the campaign will be funded by Ms Harkin and Mr O’Toole.