The opinion polls published over the weekend show that the referendum fight for the Fiscal Treaty is far from over and that the Yes vote is showing steady slippage, according to Padraig Mannion, EU spokesperson for the Workers Party.

“The government” said Mr. Mannion “are desperately trying to foist this treaty onto the Irish people by fear tactics while refusing to engage in any serious debate. More and more the Irish people are realising that this treaty, a product of the backward economic philosophy of the Merkozy alliance, is being rejected throughout the largest countries of the EU.”

“It is no longer possible for the Yes side to hide the reality that the French president will not ratify the existing Fiscal Compact. The UK, our biggest trading partner, has refused to even discuss this treaty. Even Angela Merkel, the prime architect of this treaty, cannot get the Treaty ratified by the German parliament unless it is amended to incorporate a growth pact”.

“The reality” continued Mr. Mannion “is that it is by ratifying this treaty as it presently stands Ireland will become isolated in the corridors of power in Brussels”.

“Even at this late stage there is a huge undecided constituency. Furthermore a very large percentage of the Yes vote is soft because much of that vote is based on fear rather than conviction. In the next four days it is still all to play for and, as clearly demonstrated in the 2011 presidential election, the turning point can occur practically on the eve of polling.”