Statement from Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin TD

Published on: 30 January 2012


The outcome of this summit is disappointing because it contains no new initiative to overcome the economic crisis.

The decisions to speed up some single-market measures and to reassign unspent structural funds are welcome but tiny in the face of the scale of Europe’s rising unemployment, particularly among young people.

As has been pointed out many times before, the Fiscal Treaty is too limited to solve the crisis.  It can only make a contribution if it is accompanied by other more radical steps to help fund economic growth and job creation.

The government has kept the Irish public and the Oireachtas completely in the dark about negotiations.

The Taoiseach must immediately publish whatever work he consulted on the impact of the Treaty’s provisions and the legal advice which he relied upon before agreeing to sign it.

If, as it appears, the amended text requires Ireland to adopt fiscal controls which cannot be amended during the budget process this can only be done through the constitution.  We will be seeking our own legal advice on the text, but our position remains that the people must be consulted on any significant change to our position in Europe.

It is a major concern that this is the first time in the history of the Union that a treaty is not being signed by all of its members.  A new effort should be undertaken to achieve unanimity before the scheduled signing of the Treaty in the Spring.

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