SINN FÉIN has been accused by the leader of the Progressive Democrats, Senator Ciarán Cannon, of misleading the Irish people during the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign about the prospect of the deal being renegotiated.
Pointing out that Italy had become the latest country to ratify the treaty, Mr Cannon said that in the seven weeks since Irish voters said No, it had become clear Europe was marching on without us and there would be no renegotiation.
"It took seven years and the collective efforts of 27 countries to produce the text of the treaty. Italy has ratified the Lisbon Treaty and in a very short time all 27 countries, with the exception of one, will be in the same position. The other 26 have no intention of entering into another round of protracted negotiations.
"The Irish people were sold a pup by Sinn Féin. The repeated claims made by Sinn Féin representatives during the campaign that a No vote would force a renegotiation were completely disingenuous and utterly baseless," he said. "Sinn Féin were shameless in using the Lisbon campaign as a vehicle to enhance their electoral prospects," he added.