Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)

On 31 May the people will go to the polls in one of the most important referendums the State has held since its foundation. They deserve a frank and honest debate on this issue, as there is too much at stake. The campaign must focus on the facts rather than the fantasy.

I listened to the Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore's contribution on this issue on Wednesday. I will quote one part of his speech in which he outlined the reasons for voting "Yes". He said:

I am voting "Yes" because I believe it helps us. My point today is that voting "No" genuinely will not help Ireland's recovery, it will hinder it ... If the stability treaty is about anything, it is about making sure grave mistakes are not made again. It is about getting a sustainable, fair and people focused economy here in Ireland and across Europe, where public money is available for public services and job incentives, not for paying down debt. In addition, as I have said on many occasions, it is about the euro in our pocket.

I disagree with the Tánaiste's analysis for a number of reasons. Saying "No" to the treaty will not hinder Ireland, rather it will strengthen its position within the European Union. Saying "No" will mean Irish sovereignty over its fiscal responsibilities will not be further eroded. How can this be bad for the people? The Government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth on this issue. One day it tells the people that it is working hard to regain our sovereignty as it is imperative that we regain control of our finances if we are ever to grow the economy and get back to a situation where we are not reliant on bailout funds. How can it claim this is its primary objective while proposing a treaty that does the opposite?

The Tánaiste has said the treaty is about getting to a position where public money will be used to fund public services and provide job creation incentives. The Government has not shown anything in the last 12 months to suggest it is working to achieve this. We have seen how it has been willingly handing over public money to private bondholders to the detriment of public services and job creation measures. It is clear from the recent deal on the promissory note that the Government is committed to doing this for many years to come.

The single statement on which I agree with the Tánaiste is that this is all about the euro in our pocket. Unfortunately for the people, if the treaty is passed, many of them will have far fewer euros in their pockets. Acceptance of the treaty will mean a further €5 billion to €6 billion worth of cuts and savings will have to be found after 2015.

The people have suffered enough. It is time for a change of direction to one which gives people some hope there will be an end to austerity. Voting for the treaty will do the opposite. It will enshrine austerity into law and extinguish any hope the State has of getting off its knees and standing tall again. Voting for the treaty will ultimately mean deeper cuts in health care, education and local communities. It will mean more unjust stealth taxes such as the household tax and water charges, which will do nothing but punish struggling families. The Oireachtas will be undermined in that even greater decision making powers in economic and fiscal policy matters will be handed over to unelected officials in the European Union. The treaty is about creating a one-size-fits-all fiscal approach. This is a flawed concept and while it might sound good in theory, the reality is very different. A one-size-fits-all approach, particularly one embedded in the concept of austerity, would be a major mistake for the State and the European Union.

Recent statements by various Ministers have given us an insight into the rhetoric they will use during the campaign. We are told that the treaty is about Ireland being at the heart of the European Union, as if to suggest rejecting it will leave us isolated. We are told the treaty is about job creation and putting in place the mechanisms required for the economy to recover. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rejection of the treaty will not result in Ireland being thrown out of the European Union or the eurozone. The treaty is not about job creation. Its supporters tell us that we must live within our means and that it will help Ireland to achieve this. I agree that Ireland must live within its means, but the main reason we are unable to do so is the unsustainable debt lumbered on the shoulders of the people as a result of bailing out bondholders and speculators.

Another myth being peddled concerns the notion that Sinn Féin is anti-European Union. This is not true. Sinn Féin believes partnership within the European Union should be based on independent sovereign states working for their mutual benefit. Our relationship with the Union should be engaged, confident, proactive and critical, where necessary.

I wish to address a point the Government repeats daily, that rejection of the treaty will deny Ireland access to funds if we require them in the future beyond the current bailout programme. To suggest that if we reject the austerity treaty, we will be denied European Stability Mechanism funding is simply not true. The blackmail clause, as it is known, is an empty threat. It has little, if any, legal force and conflicts with the primary mandate of the ESM to safeguard the stability of the eurozone as a whole, as written into the EU treaties. Let us be clear also that this is not the only source of emergency funding available to member states that find themselves frozen out of the sovereign markets.

As the ESM has not yet been ratified by the State, the Government continues to have a veto over it. If it wanted, it could seek the removal of this blackmail clause. Unfortunately, however, Ministers know that without it the prospect of winning the referendum on the austerity treaty is greatly lessened.

In our Private Members' motion last month Sinn Féin called on the Government to delay ratification of the ESM until after the austerity treaty referendum because it would allow a free and fair debate on the merits of the treaty, free from bullying or blackmail. The Government has since taken the first step in the right direction by delaying ratification of the ESM until after the austerity treaty referendum. I welcome this move. The Government now needs to remove this threat to the people and make it clear that if they reject the treaty, Ireland will go to the European Council and secure the removal of the blackmail clause, using the veto, if required.

Ireland is in the driving seat as the only country which is holding a referendum on the treaty. There is great support behind us from hard-pressed citizens in other European states who will not have the opportunity to have a say on the treaty. Everyone is looking to see what we do on it. I urge the people to vote "No", not just for the sake of Ireland but for the sake of the European Union.

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