Gilmore Negotiating Way-Out Of Referendum - Reilly

A Sinn Fein EU spokesperson has said Eamon Gilmore has effectively admitted the government is negotiating a way-out of a future referendum on Europe.

Senator Kathryn Reilly said the Taniaste had shown his hand by asking for the word “preferably” to be added to the draft fiscal treaty.

According to Sin Fein, the original version of the treaty said the new rules “shall be transposed into constitutional law or equivalent” in countries taking part.

However, speaking after a meeting of the Oireachtas European Union Affairs Committee, Senator Reilly said: “Today, under pressure from Sinn Fein, the mask slipped and we can see as clear as crystal that the Irish government’s tactic in negotiations is simply to slip in a way of avoiding a referendum. Adding the word ‘preferably’ can only be done for one reason – to avoid the need for a referendum.

“Eamon Gilmore says he trusts the Irish people but we now know that behind closed doors in Brussels the mandate of the Irish negotiating team is to make sure that a referendum can be weaselled out of. The Tánaiste has effectively admitted this today.

However, Mr Gilmore has dismissed reports, saying the only deal the Government would sign up to would be one that is in the best interests of our country.

(DW)