Opposition parties welcome proposed referendum
Opposition parties have welcomed the government's decision to hold a referendum on the EU's new fiscal treaty.
The treaty which imposes strict budget rules on all member states, will be put to a vote in Ireland - after the attorney general advised that a referendum was necessary.
Tonight a Government spokesman's confirmed the referendum will be held on its own and not bundled together with polls on Children's Rights or the abolition of the Seanad.
The Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin says the governemnts decision to hold a referendum is the right one:
"We will be supporting a yes vote on the referendum; the ratification of the treaty. We regret that there hasn't really been a comprehensive engagement with either the Dáil or indeed the people on the treaty itself".
