The Workers Party have said that the spat between the Taoiseach and the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny TD, about European Union demands for consultation before national budgets are presented exposes the extent to which the two leaders and their parties deceived the electorate during the two Lisbon Treaty referendums.

 

Padraig Mannion, who was the Workers Party campaign director during the referendums, said that the outburst from the Fine Gael leader in the Dáil yesterday was extraordinary and showed that Mr. Kenny clearly did not believe the line which he hammered out in the run up to the two referendums.

 

Mr. Mannion pointed out that the country’s finances wasn’t the only area where the EU had poked its nose this week as it was revealed on Tuesday that the government had to seek permission from the EU in order to bring in new legislation to regulate head shops.

 

“Yesterday Mr. Kenny told the Dáil that the EU’s demand to be consulted on the annual budgets of member states amounted to ‘handing over the economic running of the country to the EU’.   This is the same Enda Kenny that time after time insisted that the Lisbon Treaty had no implications for Irish sovereignty and angrily denounced anyone who said otherwise as being a liar.  Would the real Enda Kenny stand up please?”, said Mr. Mannion.

 

“Fine Gael’s policy statements and referendum canvassing leaflets solemnly told voters that the EU would not take a role in setting Irish tax rates and we would continue to have financial control over our own destiny.  Mr. Kenny’s party also assured voters that the Lisbon Treaty was not in fact a new Constitution for the European Union which would override national laws and constitutions.  Clearly it has dawned on Mr. Kenny that this is exactly what the Lisbon Treaty is, even if he won’t admit it.   The Irish people have obviously been sold a pup by Mr. Kenny and his erstwhile Euro-allies Mr. Cowen and Mr. Gilmore”, said Padraig Mannion.

 

Issued:  Thursday, 13 May 2010