The Sinn Féin spokesman on European Affairs, Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh, claimed yesterday that the Government was deliberately trying to narrow the debate on the Nice Treaty to the issue of immigration.
He said that the Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche, felt more comfortable rebutting the more disingenuous arguments being put forward against the treaty rather than engaging with the real issues which caused people to vote No in the last referendum.
"The Minister has so far been unable to explain why the Irish people's democratic vote of just one year ago has been totally ignored, and why he and his Government have not sought to address the many issues of concern surrounding Nice which have not changed in the meantime," he added.
Mr Ó Snodaigh said the Government's campaign was a direct assault on the Irish people's democratic rights.
"Sinn Féin is calling on the people to serve notice on this Government's unparalleled arrogance towards the electorate, reflected in the introduction of massive cuts in public services contrary to election manifesto pledges, and to reject the Nice Treaty a second time," he added.