Nice treaty referendum II:

Claim that second “no” vote would lead to economic meltdown is designed to panic workers.

Joe Higgins T.D. (Socialist Party)

In their desperation to secure the passing of the Nice Treaty this Autumn, elements on the “Yes” side are resorting to exorbitant claims of economic meltdown should the Irish people reject the Treaty again.

This is designed to panic workers into voting ‘Yes’. It is a measure of the anxiety of the proponents of Nice, that these exaggerated economic claims are being made.

In fact they well know that the presence of multinational corporations is dependent on the huge profits they make from a highly skilled workforce and pay a derisory level of taxes compared to other E.U. countries. The Irish people’s exercise of their democratic right to reject Nice in favour of a different kind of Europe does not change this.

Implied warnings of economic disaster are not conducive to an informed discussion on what shape Europe should take in the future.

Crucial issues such as the militarisation of Europe and the proposed new structures implied by “enhanced co-operation” need to be debated on their own merits without being overshadowed by threats of economic crisis in the event of a second rejection of Nice.

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