Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Second, it would not be a good idea to do so. What the country needs, at a time of uncertainty in Europe, particularly in Greece, is for individual citizens to make a clear statement that we want stability and certainty. Every individual citizen will have the opportunity on 31 May to make a very clear statement in the privacy of the ballot box that we want a stable Europe. It will be an opportunity to state our desire for certainty about our own future in terms of emergency funding and certainty and stability in order that investors will have the confidence to continue investing in Ireland and thus create jobs and allow the economy to recover. I do not hold the idea that we should stand back and wait to see what way the wind is blowing. What does Deputy Ross expect investors would do in such a scenario? I was at a meeting yesterday morning organised by American Chamber of Commerce Ireland and attended by 100 senior executives of American companies investing in the State. What kind of report would they send to headquarters were I to tell them that we were postponing the referendum to wait to see how the wind was blowing? If we take that approach, investors will do exactly the same. We must have certainty and stability in order that there will be investment in this country. What has happened in France is something the Government welcomes because it contributes to the growth agenda and promoting job creation in Europe. That is very much in harmony with what we are doing in order to promote growth and provide a stimulus in the domestic economy, with a view to getting more people into work, allowing the economy to recover and making this a better country.

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