Day 30: The Final Day

The Final Day of the Referendum Campaign has arrived. Politicians have been blocked from the Radio Waves and TV screens and the Public have taken a deep sigh of relief that is until tomorrow morning, when they wake to the question of the last 30 Days. The final day saw the High Court make a ruling on a petition from Sinn Féin. The long road to recovery and a positive vote.

At the High Court

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty, TD, has welcomed the High Court ruling. He says that the High Court has ruled that the Independent Referendum Commission's view on Ireland's veto on the ESM is an Opinion rather then a fact. Sinn Féin remain of the opinion that the veto is still open to Ireland on the setting up of the ESM. He said "Justice Hogan stated clearly that there is room for legitimate legal and political debate on the question and the position would be ultimately be decided by the European Court of Justice in reference with the Supreme Court. He acknowledged that powerful and legitimate arguments had been made by my legal team."

Labour's Emer Costello, MEP, has called Sinn Féin's failed application to the High Court to have the Independent Referendum Commission to retract their views on Ireland's veto on the ESM. She said "This legal challenge was a last-minute publicity stunt deliberately designed to confuse voters just before polling. It fits in very well with Sinn Fein's whole approach to this referendum. I welcome the High Court judgement to dismiss this spurious case".

Fine Gael's Lucinda Creghton, TD, also proclaimed that the High Court request by Sinn Féin was a publicity stunt late in the debate. She said " Today’s High Court judgement is further confirmation, should we need it, that Sinn Féin's arguments throughout this campaign have been concerned solely with promoting the Sinn Féin party and its hopes for electoral gain rather than promoting what is best for the Irish people."

The Final No Push

On the final day of campaigning The Socialist Party's Clare Daly, TD, has asked SIPTU leadership to get off the fence. As a member of the Union she has asked for the president of the Union to come out and call for a NO VOTE in tomorrow's referendum. She said "A ‘No’ vote call from SIPTU General President is the only logical step given that the €10 billion investment guarantee they demanded from the government in return for advocating a ‘Yes’ vote has not been delivered."

Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams, TD, has given his final appeal for a NO VOTE in tomorrow's Referendum . He said that a NO VOTE was a positive step, that it will not solve the Eurozone crisis, it will constitutionalize failed austerity policies and he asked for Irish citizen not to give up their Financial sovereignty. He concluded by saying "A strong No vote this Thursday will strengthen the hand of everyone, arguing for a better, fairer way forward through investment in jobs and growth. Voting No is the positive and the patriotic thing to do. Voting No means standing up for each other and standing up for Ireland.
Vote No!".

Sinn Fein's Peadar Tóibín, TD, has pointed to the failure of the government to get a grasp of unemployment pointing to the release of Live Register figures, which had an increase of 2,906 this month. He is calling on a NO VOTE tomorrow and said "Since coming to power Labour and Fine Gael policy has increased long term unemployment by 7%, increased costs to our people and increased rates of emigration. There is a need for this government to listen to the people, to end austerity, end the bailout and to invest in growth and jobs."

The Final Yes Push

Labour's Ciarán Lynch, TD, has called on voters to VOTE YES. He says this treaty is about protecting the Euro in your pocket, protecting jobs, an environment for regaining lost jobs, certainty for the payment of frontline services and economic growth.

Fianna Fáil Leader, Micheal Martin, TD, has called for a YES VOTE tomorrow from farmers he said today “By voting Yes, we will be sending out the right signal about Ireland’s future in Europe to our export markets. We will be boosting international confidence in Ireland’s economic future, thereby boosting Irish exports.”

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, TD, on the last day before the election has said that the Treaty provides Stability and Clarity to Ireland's econcomic situation. He said "The decision that the people of Ireland face this week is of vital importance to the future of this country."

He advised that major international companies who invest in Ireland are looking for a YES VOTE. He said a YES VOTE would provide "emergency funding" should Ireland need it, and to get access to the emergency funding should we need it the only option is to VOTE YES. He then says "Opponents of the Stability Treaty seem to think that a fairy godmother will descend, wave a magic wand and provide us with the money that we may need at some stage to pay pensioners, and to keep our schools and our hospitals open. This is nonsense."

Labour's Dominic Hannigan, TD, has said that a YES VOTE will help Ireland on the road to recovery. He point to the OECD's figure of 2.1% for growth in Ireland in 2013. The falling deficit, the stabilization of state finances. Job announcements across the country on a daily basis. He says the new government has given investors a clear vote of confidence in Ireland. He believes that a YES VOTE will work in parallel with the proposed growth strategy being explored at European level. He concluded by saying "I am appealing to voters to get out tomorrow and vote Yes. Every single vote will matter when the polling stations open tomorrow. This Treaty is an important step for Ireland and Europe to take, and a Yes vote will ensure that Ireland is on board with the rest of Europe as we move to put our problems behind us."