Sinn Féin unveils Lisbon No campaign

Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald today said it was possible to get a better deal on Europe if the Lisbon Treaty was rejected.

Sinn Féin, the only Dáil party campaigning for a No vote, was unveiling its No to Lisbon campaign in Dublin.

Ms McDonald, who is heading up the party’s referendum campaign, said the Government has “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. . . . It will reduce our political strength, further undermine neutrality and is bad for the economy and workers rights.”

The changes proposed in the Treaty "mean that Ireland will have less influence in the design of future proposals, less votes in key decisions, and a reduced ability to block decisions that are not in Ireland’s interests," Ms McDonald said.

The MEP declared it was "nonsense" to argue there was no Plan B. “It is possible to secure a better deal in Europe if the Irish people vote No and send the Government back to the negotiating table."

Also attending today's Lisbon event were campaign director Cllr Padraig McLochlainn, Dáil leader Caoimhghin Ó Caolain TD, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD and MEP Bairbre de Brún.

Cllr MacLochlainn said his party’s campaign against the treaty was intensifying.

“Campaign directorates have been set up in very county and activists are robustly campaigning for a No Vote door to door, at shopping centres, local markets and a variety of public events."

He said Sinn Féin would be hosting public debates across the country, undertaking a leadership tour with party leader Gerry Adams, and unveiling its no2lisbon website.

Additional reporting PA