‘Yes’ side plays Celtic Tiger card

Date: 10/10/02

By David Cronin

WILL the Celtic Tiger stop roaring if Ireland votes 'No' to Nice?

The 'Yes' side in the 19 October referendum is arguing that it's a distinct possibility that the country's ability to entice fresh investment will be damaged should the Nice treaty be torpedoed.

Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, for example, has cited a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, arguing that a 'No' vote would lead potential investors to 'sniff uncertainty'.

He also said that the treaty would protect Ireland's low corporate tax regime, regarded by many as the principal catalyst of its economic growth.

Previous investment, he contended, had been due to Ireland's consistent embrace of Europe.

'By being positive Europeans we attracted foreign companies to create over 10,000 jobs here,' he said.

Enda Kenny, leader of centre-right opposition party Fine Gael, also feels a 'Yes' is needed to secure continued economic success. It is 'humbling', he said, that many of the countries bidding to join the EU have said they

wish to emulate the Irish example of using the Union as a springboard to growth.

Outgoing Labour Party boss Ruairi Quinn argued the treaty will benefit small states, both existing EU members and new entrants. In an attack on 'No' campaigners, he said: 'They are inherently defeatist about Ireland's capacity to argue for its national interest in Europe.

'They seek to defend the position of small states in the EU and at the same time oppose a treaty that will considerably alter EU membership in favour of small states.'

Yet the 'No' side has accused the government of scaremongering by suggesting that rejection of the treaty will be tantamount to a bullet in the Celtic Tiger's brain.

'There is no foundation whatsoever for the view that we will suffer a loss of investment because of a 'No' vote,' said Green Party MP John Gormley. 'The same tactics were used in the Danish euro referendum and were shown to have absolutely no basis when the Danes voted 'No' [to the single currency].'

Anti-capitalist groups opposing Nice have seized on Article 133 of the treaty, which calls for a common commercial policy and the 'achievement of uniformity in liberalisation' of markets across the Union.

Joe Higgins, the sole Irish MP for the hard-left Socialist Party, has argued that this would lead to the wholesale privatisation of state-owned companies.

His assertion has been backed by left-leaning nationalist party Sinn Féin.

Yet the chambers of commerce of Ireland have dismissed these contentions and criticised state broadcaster RTE for allowing 'No' campaigners to air such views without being challenged. 'Facts, rhetoric and reasonable conjecture are legitimate tools in debate,' said chief executive

John Dunne. 'But misrepresentation, misdirection and outright lies are not.'

The 'Yes' side received the apparent backing of the Catholic hierarchy this week. In a statement, the Irish bishops said there seemed to be a stronger case for Nice than against it, yet they stopped short of urging their flock to vote in a given way.

The bishops in this predominantly Catholic country made an almost identical observation before last year's failed referendum.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the various groups on the 'Yes' side of the argument are spending nine times more on their campaign than those in the opposite camp.

The Irish Times has reported that total 'Yes' expenditure has now hit €1.53 million, compared to €170,500 by the 'No' side.

The figures do not include the €5.8 million being spent on providing information or hosting debates by the government, various government-appointed bodies, the Institute of European Affairs and the Irish branch of the European Movement.

The 'Yes' side in the Irish referendum on 19 October 2002 is arguing that it's a distinct possibility that the country's ability to entice fresh investment will be damaged should the Nice treaty be torpedoed.

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