Multinationals 'indifferent' to treaty vote

TG4 DEBATE:MULTINATIONAL companies investing in Ireland are not all that concerned about the fiscal treaty, it was claimed during the latest televised debate on the referendum.

The assertion by Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh was made during the live debate on TG4 last night. The Galway senator was responding to Fine Gael Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd, who had challenged him to name one prominent US or multinational employer who had called for a No vote in the treaty.

“US and multinational companies do not have the respect for the treaty that is claimed, and are indifferent as to if there is a Yes or No vote,” Mr Ó Clochartaigh said.

The four-way debate also featured Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Dara Calleary and the Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins. Mr Calleary argued the treaty was the only thing that would guarantee certainty, especially when it came to access to the bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism.

Mr Higgins argued that a Yes vote would mean a further round of austerity on top of the austere measures taken by successive governments in Ireland since 2008.

The debate was dominated by frequent clashes between Mr Ó Clochartaigh and Mr O’Dowd on the issues. Mr Ó Clochartiagh claimed ESM funds would be available even if the country voted No. Mr O’Dowd contradicted him, saying the Referendum Commission had stated the only way of obtaining ESM funds would be by ratifying the treaty.