GETTING THE Lisbon Treaty passed was “beyond party politics” and “a huge issue” for the Irish people and Irish society, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said yesterday.
Outlining the Government’s approach in a second referendum, he told RTÉ Radio’s This Week programme: “We’re going to address the concerns that have been identified by the Oireachtas committee and by another survey that has been done by the Department [of Foreign Affairs] independently.
“We have ... obtained from our colleagues a recognition that every member state will retain their commissioner. That’s an important aspect of why some people voted No the last time. We also intend getting legally-binding commitments on other issues which were of concern to people.”
He believed recent economic developments had shown people the importance of Ireland’s membership of the European Union.
“The role of the European Central Bank has been absolutely fundamental. The zone of stability that the euro area provides in terms of the economic and financial challenges this country has been facing.
“Without being members of that union I would hate to think where we would be,” he said.
“We have seen unfortunately where Iceland were when they had to stand alone and try and meet the forces that were contending against them in that respect.
“So I think there’s a growing realisation by everybody that Ireland’s interests, our national interests, are very definitely to be in the mainstream of the EU.”
When it was put to him that pro-Lisbon parties would have to campaign harder, he said: “It’s beyond party politics, I mean, let’s be frank about it, this is a huge issue for the Irish people, for how the investment community internationally views Ireland.”
