Fiscal Treaty Referendum Date Announced
The Government has announced Thursday the 31st of May, 2012 as the date for the referendum for the fiscal treaty. Sinn Fein have announced that that they will be looking for a no vote in the treaty. Opinion polls show a 60% vote for the treaty with 40% against the treaty, excluding undecided.
The EU provided a final draft of the new Fiscal Compact Treaty in January, 2012. The Treaty was then signed at the beginning of March. The United Kingdom and The Czech Republic have both opted not to sign the treaty. Ireland as with most EU treaties will be the only country to take a democratic vote on the Treaty.
In the Dail yesterday An Tainiste Éamon Gilmore announced the date for the Referendum as the 31st of May, 2012. Sinn Fein announced their opposition to the new treaty.
Date |
Polling agency |
Yes |
No |
Don't Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
25/3/2012 |
RED C/The Sunday Business Post |
49% |
33% |
18% |
4/3/2012 |
RED C/The Sunday Business Post |
44% |
29% |
26% |
4/3/2012 |
Millward Brown Lansdowne/Sunday Independent |
37% |
26% |
15% |
29/1/2012 |
RED C/The Sunday Business Post |
40% |
36% |
24% |
In announcing Sinn Fein Opposition to the Treaty Gerry Adams said "It will cost taxpayers at least an additional €6 billion in public spending cuts and tax increases after 2015. It will mean more cuts to our schools, our hospitals and our community services. It will also mean more charges and tax hikes. There will also be significant new powers given to the European Commission and European Court of Justice.It will also undermine the Oireachtas."
Micheal Martin gives Fianna Fáil's support to the Treaty and a yes vote saying in the Dail " Fianna Fáil will be supporting ratification of the treaty and insertion of the subsection into our Constitution and will be campaigning on the basis that we believe this is good for Ireland and the eurozone. It is by no means a panacea to all of our problems. Significant additional measures will be required to bring stability to the eurozone crisis, in particular the provision of an adequate firewall and a broadening of the mandate of the European Central Bank, for which I have long argued. "
Shane Ross was absent from the Dail for the Technical Group and it was left to Joe Higgins of The Socialist Party to announce his opposition and his parties opposition to the Treaty "I look forward to a vigorous, democratic and open debate. I hope we will not hear any more lavish claims of massive jobs and investment on the basis of a “Yes” vote, as we heard during the debates on recent treaties."