.A Yes vote in the EU Fiscal Treaty would drive Ireland over the cliff of permanent austerity, according to the Workers Party.

Speaking at a Workers Party public meeting in Kells, Co. Meath, last night (Wednesday), Party spokesman Seamus McDonagh said the government is pushing Ireland headlong towards the economic abyss of perpetual austerity through the Treaty even though the rest of Europe has either halted or turned back

Vote No to permanent Austerity

Mr. McDonagh said that while the people of Greece and France had overwhelmingly rejected pro-austerity governments in last weekend’s elections, and Germany’s parliament had postponed a vote on the Fiscal Treaty, the Irish government was intent on pushing on. Only the Irish people could stop this foolhardy rush towards economic suicide by rejecting the Fiscal Treaty with a resolute NO vote on May 31st.

“The French and Greek elections of last Sunday were game-changers”, said Mr. McDonagh. “The French election in particular and the end of the Merkozy alliance changes everything. While we have yet to see if President-elect Francois Hollande will keep his promises, he has been given a clear mandate from the French people for a change of tack. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is now isolated in Europe and it makes no sense whatsoever for Ireland to come to her aid by voting for a Treaty which is dead in the water”

Speakers at the Kells meeting

Mr. McDonagh concluded by saying that a NO vote was the only outcome of the Irish referendum which could protect the Irish economy from further decline. “An overwhelming Irish NO vote”, said Mr. McDonagh, “far from isolating us, would in fact put us in tune with the majority of people all over Europe. It would give us the freedom to stimulate the economy with a real jobs package based on putting people back into work, not internships or low paid jobs. Adopting this treaty in the changed circumstances would be nonsensical”.

Some of the audience at the Workers’ Party meeting in Kells on the EU Fiscal Treaty.