Britannia Radio

EU Observer  
08.10.2002 - 08:19 CET

Irish ex and present Commissioners lobby for a 'yes' vote

The European Commission last month said that it will not interfere in
the Nice referendum
campaign. It will not, however, stop Irish Commissioner David Byrne from
making statements  Irish
citizens were put under pressure on Monday not to reject the Nice Treaty
a second time. Ireland's
current and former EU Commissioners gathered together on Monday to warn
the voters of the
dangers of voting no in this referendum. It is the first time the seven
commissioners shared such a
platform to explain why a Yes vote is best for Ireland, the Irish
Independent said.

Former commissioner Peter Sutherland said it would be catastrophic to
Ireland's image and
prospects if the Irish voted No a second time, before speaking about the
damage it would create
for candidate countries. "They have every right to expect the generosity
which we rightfully
received during our time in Europe," he said.

On the other hand, former Minister for Finance Ray McSharry could not
think of one reason why
people should vote No, "other than to obstruct the prosperity that we
have enjoyed over the last 30
years," the Irish Independent wrote.

Former president Patrick Hillery, the first-ever Irish commissioner, who
was appointed in 1973,
said he was voting Yes because he was totally convinced we should not do
harm to the people in
the countries wishing to join the EU. The current commissioner, David
Byrne asked how Ireland
would explain a No result to the millions of families who are seeking a
better life. "That we, the Irish
people, voted against Nice, and perhaps for reasons unassociated with
Nice - such as complaints
about the high cost of insurance here, or ... other concerns, however
serious, of a purely domestic
nature."

The European Commission last month said that it will not interfere in
the Nice referendum
campaign. It will not, however, stop Commissioner David Byrne from
making statements, it said.
"Mr Byrne will not be campaigning, but the Commission cannot stop him
from saying what he
wants," Commission
spokesperson Jonathan Faull had said.
 
Written by Sharon Spiteri
Edited by Honor Mahony