Fianna Fáil Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív has said he will advise voters to vote No in the upcoming European Fiscal Treaty Referendum.
Speaking this morning, Mr Ó Cuív said the treaty was a "bad deal" for Ireland and that it could not be changed later on if it is accepted by the electorate.
"When we went into Europe we were promised a veto to protect the rights of the smaller countries. When people said the larger countries would make the decisions, those who were in favour [of membership] said smaller countries had protection in the form of a veto," Mr Ó Cuív told Radío na Gaeltachta.
Mr Ó Cuív said a No vote would ensure that the fiscal treaty and the ESM treaty would not come into force and said it is "becoming increasingly clear that that is what the people of Europe want".
"I am advising people to vote againt the treaty."
Speaking on the Adhmhaidin programme, Mr Ó Cuív said he believed the Government had struck a "very bad deal" in Europe.
"I strongly believe that Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore struck a very bad deal in Brussels and, as things stand in Ireland at the moment, we cannot afford this.”
Mr Ó Cuív resigned as his party’s deputy leader and spokesman on energy in February because of his opposition to the treaty. Speaking at the time, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said Mr Ó Cuív’s refusal to support the parliamentary party's position on the fiscal compact meant it was “no longer feasible for him to occupy these roles”.