Friday will be last Lisbon vote, says Cowen
Taoiseach Brian Cowen today ruled out a third referendum on the Lisbon Treaty if the controversial charter is rejected again.
As both sides in the debate made their final pleas to voters Cowen warned a second and final defeat would plunge the EU into uncertainty.
"Well there won't be a Lisbon III, I think that's for sure," Cowen said.
Leading the charge for the 'Yes' camp with just one full day to go until polling, the Taoiseach claimed the vote was one of the most important political decisions of our time.
He said Ireland faced the prospect of a two-tier Europe if the complex charter was thrown out for a second time.
"I think what's clear is that we face into a period of extraordinary uncertainty in Europe, for Europe, and what direction it would then take," said Cowen.
"We could well see the development of a two-speed Europe."
Pro and anti-treaty groups staged separate events throughout the day in a last ditch intensive effort to woo voters before the traditional broadcasting ban came into force at midnight.
Cowen reiterated that backing the document would help boost recovery in an economy hit by a devastating banking crisis, 12% unemployment and a property crash.
"In less than 48 hours the Irish people will go to the polls to make one of the most important decisions in our recent political history," Mr Cowen said.
"We face a clear choice on Friday and the stakes could not be higher."
Mr Cowen said the electorate's concerns over the treaty had been addressed by legal guarantees - commitments from EU leaders that each member state would retain a commissioner and the charter would not effect Irish neutrality, tax rates or family law.
He claimed the assurances had substantially changed the dynamic of the referendum.
"Those who have made partisan claims, in the course of this campaign, that they (guarantees) are worthless, ignore the fact the legal guarantees constitute an international agreement which will enter into force on the same day as the Lisbon Treaty," he said.
Declan Ganley, head of the anti-treaty group Libertas, said Ireland has nothing to lose and everything to gain by voting 'No' in the referendum.
The millionaire businessman said the EU reform package had not changed at all since the Irish people rejected it last year during the first ballot.
"We cannot possibly get a worse deal than what is in the Lisbon Treaty. We can definitely get a better deal," he said.
"They put a gun to our heads, the gun is empty, there's nothing harmful that can come from a 'No' vote."
Chief opposition party Fine Gael, which is backing a yes vote, claimed there was a better understanding among voters about some of the key issues in the treaty.
Leader Enda Kenny said he had campaigned across 36 constituencies and clocked up 5,500km since the party's campaign began earlier this month.
"They (voters) have understood to a far greater extent what this treaty means," he said.
"They understand what is not in this treaty and they are happier in their own minds that a genuine attempt has been made to explain what the Lisbon Treaty is all about."
Mr Kenny issued an appeal to supporters across the state to put the country first, vote 'Yes' and set aside any qualms they have with the Government's performance.
The Labour Party claimed it was confident of a 'Yes' vote but campaign director Joe Costello warned recent polls suggested the 'No' side was winning over undecided voters.
"That is a worrying trend," he said.
The latest opinion poll taken last weekend gave the 'Yes' side a commanding lead, with half of all voters suggesting they would back the reform package.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore urged voters not to use their anger over recessionary cutbacks as a bat to beat the Government with.
"Only a 'Yes' vote is a vote for jobs, only a 'Yes' vote is a vote that secures investment, only a 'Yes' vote is a vote for economic recovery and only a 'Yes' vote is a vote for our children to have a future in this country," he said.
Junior coalition party the Green Party accepted that some of the 'No' side's claims had held sway with the public.
Party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley said he had heard voters express concerns about conscription and the possible emergence of a European army.
"Clearly the propaganda of the 'No' side has worked to some degree. Not as effectively as it was in the first campaign, but certainly there are people out there who continue to believe these myths," he said.
Mr Gormley accused no campaigners of peddling lies by questioning the validity of the legal guarantees.
Sinn Féin - the only Dáil party to oppose the treaty - said rejecting the charter would secure a more democratic EU.
Leader Gerry Adams said: "Citizens want a fairer Ireland, a fairer Europe, a democratic Ireland, a democratic Europe.
"If we want to have decency and accountability and if we want a social Europe then come out ... and vote 'No'."
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