PRESS CONFERENCE:THE LABOUR Party and the SDLP yesterday accused Sinn Féin of adopting an "opportunistic" and "self-serving" approach in its opposition to the Lisbon Treaty.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan and his Labour counterpart Eamon Gilmore issued the criticism at a joint press conference in Belfast called to press for a Yes vote in the June referendum. They were joined by Labour TD Joe Costello and SDLP figures including deputy leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell.
Mr Durkan and Mr Gilmore were happy to argue the merits of the treaty, but when pressed about the possibility of an SDLP-Fianna Fáil link-up, as some SDLP members favour, were less forthcoming. Mr Durkan said Sinn Féin's opposition was "self-serving" and contradicted the party's "supposed" pro-European stance - which was rejected by Sinn Féin Assembly member John O'Dowd.
"Yet again we see Sinn Féin happy to take an approach which is all about party-building, and nothing that is about nation-building or about building a stronger, better, or fairer Europe," said Mr Durkan.
"There is a lot of fear-mongering in what they are saying. They are happy to ride on the back of all sorts of nonsense coming from various sore heads and head-bangers about a whole variety of issues," he added.
There was a "hollowness" about Sinn Féin on Europe, he said. If the party was truly pro-Europe it would be in favour of the treaty.
Mr Gilmore said the outcome of the referendum would be "tight". He said Sinn Féin's stance on Lisbon was "opportunistic".
He suggested that Sinn Féin in the Republic have taken this position because under referendum rules they were guaranteed broadcast time and print space to make their No case, and this was dictated by Sinn Féin's wish to gain publicity ahead of next year's European Parliament elections.
"It is interesting to note their opposition to the Lisbon Treaty is confined to South of the Border," he said.
Mr Gilmore said Sinn Féin was wrong in arguing that the treaty would be bad for workers. "They are misleading workers for their own party political interests." The Labour leader said it was important to highlight the all-Ireland dimension of the treaty campaign. "Not only does the Republic have a strong interest in a Yes vote, but the people of Ireland, North and South, do also," he said.
"The European Union has been an important contributor to the peace process in Northern Ireland. Significant funding was made available, which contributed to building up the economy on both sides of the Border. The EU has played a key role in bringing jobs to both parts of Ireland. Membership of the European Union is an essential part of the strategy for an all-island economy," he added.
Mr O'Dowd said the Lisbon Treaty referendum disenfranchised voters in the North and was a bad deal for Ireland. "On June 12th the Irish people will go to the polls and whatever happens on that day, Ireland's place in Europe is secure. However, the Labour Party and the SDLP have cynically tried to play on people's fears in an effort to avoid real debate on the contents of the treaty. Because the fact is that the Lisbon Treaty is a bad deal for Ireland," he added.
"It will reduce Ireland's political strength, further undermine neutrality and is bad for the economy and workers' rights," he said. "The Lisbon Treaty is bad for Irish farmers and bad for rural communities, and will show no progress for Irish fishing communities." Mr Durkan and Mr Gilmore noted that the SDLP and Labour were "sister parties", aligned with the Party of European Socialists.