Gilmore urges full turnout for most crucial referendum for decades
Issued : Thursday 1 October, 2009
Statement by Eamon Gilmore TD
Party Leader
The referendum campaign on the Lisbon Reform Treaty, now entering its final hours, is one of the most important the country has had in recent decades.
The result will determine not just our relationship with the rest of Europe, but it will also have a major impact on our capacity to recover from the economic crisis and to get people back to work.
Action is required at both national and international level if we are to recover from the economic recession and get people back to work. The EU is our key partner in this regard.
A no vote would send out a negative message internationally, suggesting that we are, at best, half hearted about the EU. This would be no incentive to foreign investment and would restrict our capacity to create new jobs.
A clear yes vote on the other hand would send out a positive and confident message, that Ireland is open for business, that we welcome foreign investment and the jobs it brings and that we want to remain a fully committed member of the EU.
This has been a long and hard fought campaign. The arguments for and against have been put with great vigour and the Referendum Commission has been a valuable source of independent information on the issues involved.
I believe that there is sufficient information on the Treaty for everyone to make an informed judgement. I am confident that anyone who looks at the Treaty with an open mind and who has the interests of this country and its people at heart will have no hesitation in voting yes.
The greatest mistake that could be made by those who value our membership of the EU would be to assume that the referendum is going to be passed. Every single vote will count when the ballot boxes are opened and my final appeal to all voters is to get out and vote.
