Government paves way for EU Constitution referendum
The Government today published a revised Bill paving the way for the upcoming referendum on the proposed EU Constitution.
Launching the document, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said the Cabinet would be moving quickly to establish a Referendum Commission with a budget of €5m to publicise the issues involved.
Announcing the publication, Dermot Ahern said that Fine Gael and the Labour Party were consulted and gave their approval in the drafting of the wording.
The Government rewrote its proposed wording for the EU treaty referendum excluding a controversial clause that would have allowed the state to sign up to a range of EU policy changes without a referendum.
Mr Ahern said: “These consultations have been very useful and the Government looks forward to working with them to secure the ratification of the European Constitution. We hope that other parties will also decide to support it.”
Mr Ahern also said the Government was confident that the Irish people will endorse the European Constitution.
European Affairs Minister Noel Treacy said he looked forward to a full and honest debate on the issues.
“Despite the good work which has been done already, in particular by the National Forum on Europe, we are conscious of the need to ensure that citizens are well informed about the European Constitution and what it means for Ireland.
“Publication of the Bill now makes it possible to move to establish the Referendum Commission, which has the dual function of informing the public and encouraging voter turnout.”
The Government will soon be publishing a White Paper discussion document on the Constitution and sending an information booklet to every household.
Endorsing the Bill, Fine Gael said it was in Ireland’s interests to ratify the Treaty as it will bring greater transparency, democracy and efficiency to the enlarged 25-member EU.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Bernard Allen called for the Referendum Commission to be set up immediately and the Government should not announce a date for the referendum until results in Holland and France are known.
He added: “I look forward to the Dáil debate on this legislation and to a detailed analysis of these proposals.”
Welcoming the Bill, The Labour Party said it wanted to ensure that future changes to fundamental aspects of the EU Constitution must go before the Irish people in referenda.
Party leader Pat Rabbitte added: “While the complex wording now published will of course require careful study and consideration, we will be asking the Party to agree to a motion at our National Conference this weekend to support the campaign to adopt the EU Constitution in the forthcoming referendum.”
The Green Party said it was disappointed the ‘triple lock’ mechanism was not sufficiently protected in the wording of the Bill.
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald called for a date to be set for the referendum, preferably in the autumn.
“It is important there is an honest and open debate on this issue,” she added.
Sinn Féin is due to hold a two-day information conference on the proposed EU Constitution in Dublin this weekend.
