Europe will move on without us, warns Taoiseach
Taoiseach Enda Kenny warned today that Europe will move on without Ireland next year if the EU fiscal treaty referendum is not passed.
His statement came after a leading ratings agency warned that Ireland will find itself cut off from European funding if the country votes no, as it will not have access to the European Stability Mechanism.
Moody's also said that it expected Ireland will need a second bailout once the first deal comes to an end.
Speaking to Midwest Radio, Mr Kenny described a yes vote as an "insurance policy" for Ireland's future.
"Europe will move on on the first of January 2013, next year, when the treaty has to be ratified," he said.
"The important thing however to remember is this - that when people look at Ireland in a few years' time to invest in this country, they will look for the insurance of the opportunity to avail, if it were ever necessary, of the European Stability Mechanism, the ESM, and that's a very important consideration."
