Ireland’s problems come solely and narrowly from its membership of the euro. It won’t recover until it leaves.
~MEP Daniel Hannan
Fionnan Sheahan and Fiach Kelly
The Independent [IE]
2/29/2012
EAMON O Cuiv – grandson of Fianna Failfounder – has stepped down as Deputy leader of the party today in a shock development.
He also stood down as Communications spokesperson.
Party leader Micheal Martin issued a statement saying that he had accepted Mr Ó Cuív’s resignation from these positions.
Mr Martin said that “Éamon’s refusal to support the Parliamentary Party’s position on the Fiscal Compact meant that it was no longer feasible for him to occupy these roles.”
O Cuiv said it was “a matter of principle” for him. He will remain a member of Fianna Fail, and of the parliamentary party.
Earlier, on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Ó Cuív said he had to decide whether he could go with the party stance, if that were to vote in favour of the referendum, or whether the question was so grave that he would have to go against the party.
He said the implications of that decision would mean leaving the parliamentary party.
This is a shattering blow to FF at a time when it is suffering in the polls and has been surpassed by Sinn Fein.
The Treaty poll – announced yesterday – is throwing up huge challenges for all the Dail parties.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is facing his biggest challenge as leader of the country – to persuade voters to back controversial EU controls on our budgets.
He and his Government are gearing up for a difficult 10-week referendum campaign to win a ‘Yes’ vote on the tough new EU rules.
The rules would severely restrict borrowing and ensure governments balance the books…
…The Government is already insisting the question will only be put to the people once and there will not be a second referendum, unlike in the case of the Nice and Lisbon treaties…
Read the entire article at The Independent.
Read also, Daniel Hannan: Four reasons why an English Eurosceptic wants Ireland to say FU to the EU
IT won’t make any difference. Even if Ireland votes against the FU Treaty, it’ll be imposed anyway. It’s what happened when the country voted against Nice in 2001, and against Lisbon in 2008. Brussels won’t take ‘No’ for an answer.
This time, Eurocrats won’t even need to demand a rerun (‘go away and try again, Paddy…’) The fiscal compact has been specifically designed to be proof against ‘No’ votes: it will come into effect once 12 out of the 17 eurozone states ratify.
Still, I hope Ireland says FU to the Merkozy treaty, for four reasons…
Read the whole thing!
