A No campaigner in the Lisbon Treaty today accused the Yes side of "brow beating" the public into voting for the treaty and of misrepresenting key issues in the debate.
Richard Boyd Barrett, of the People Before Profit Alliance, today accused those campaigning for a Yes vote in Thursday’s referendum of raising “straw-man” arguments as part of their campaign tactics. He also accused some sections of the media of ignoring the real issues by over-focusing on business interests in the debate.
In a statement, Mr Boyd Barrett said recent polls showed that the No sentiment is disproportionately coming from the working class and young people who are directly affected by issues such as workers rights and public services.
He said that key areas of the debate such as public services, privatisation, EU militarisation and neutrality are being underplayed or simply ignored, with the Yes side trying to “brow beat the public the public into voting for the treaty using fear and the dishonest argument that it was about being pro- or anti-Europe”.
Mr Boyd Barrett described the Treaty as an erosion of democracy as it would give “greater power to people who are either not elected at all or who are not directly elected by Irish citizens”.
The People Before Profit Alliance will continue its campaign today on Grafton Street in Dublin. Speakers will include Mr Boyd Barrett, group co-convenor Ailbhe Smyth and Kieran Allen, a member of Siptu's education branch.
Also canvassing for a No vote today, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said he believed a "better deal" than the Lisbon Treaty was possible for Ireland in Europe.
On a canvass in Limerick city centre, he said many people he had spoken to who were "initial yes voters are now voting against the treaty".
"Issues such as the loss of a permanent Commissioner are of real concern to people. By rejecting the treaty we can give the Government a strong mandate from which to negotiate a better deal for Ireland," he said.
"One which secures a permanent Commissioner, stops Irish rates of pay being undercut, protects Irish neutrality with a specific article and opposes the obligation to increase military spending, and ends the use of Irish taxpayers’ money funding the nuclear industry. By voting no on Thursday the Irish people can secure a better deal. We should not have to accept second best.”