Anti-Nice group criticises Government claims
A group campaigning for a ‘No’ vote in the forthcoming Nice Treaty referendum has criticised the Government’s claims that rejection of the treaty will damage foreign investment in Ireland.
Equal in Europe said these allegations are vague and are not supported by hard fact.
Spokesperson Linda McEvoy said: “The United Nations world investment report 2002, which was published last week, shows that the United Kingdom has jumped into second place in the world in terms of foreign direct investment.
"That’s despite having opted out of the euro and definitely being perceived as being outside the mainstream of the EU."
The Government and other ‘Yes’ campaigners have consistently stated that another ‘no’ vote will alienate Ireland from the EU and thereby affect foreign direct investment.
However, Ms McEvoy said these assertions are not grounded in fact. She said investment in Ireland is directly related to low rates of corporation tax, an attractive grants system for businesses and the highly skilled Irish workforce, things that are completely unaffected by the Nice Treaty.
