Outspoken independent politician Shane Ross has added his weight to the No campaign ahead of Ireland’s vote on Europe but the latest opinion polls suggest the Yes camp will win comfortably.
The Dublin based deputy has announced that he will vote No in this week’s Fiscal Treaty referendum.
Ross believes the government should postpone the vote until the current political situation in Europe stabilizes.
But his move will do little or no good to the No campaign according to three opinion polls published on Sunday morning.
The three polls all suggest that the Yes side is ahead by between 58% and 60%.
The polls were conducted by Behaviour and Attitudes for the Sunday Times, Millward Brown Lansdowne for the Sunday Independent, and Red C for the Sunday Business Post.
They all suggest that if the Referendum were held today, it would be passed.
The Sunday Independent poll, including the ‘Don’t Knows’, found 42 per cent in favour (up five points); 28 per cent against (up four points); 27 per cent who don’t know (down eight points); and four per cent (unchanged) who refused to say or who will not vote.
Excluding the ‘Don’t Knows’, the poll found 60 per cent in favour of the treaty and 40 per cent against, unchanged since a similar poll was taken on May 14 and 15 last.
The poll also found that 54 per cent believe the referendum should have been postponed while 54 per cent also believe Ireland will have access to another bailout from the European Union next year if the treaty is rejected.
Some 58 per cent believe there will be a second referendum if the treaty is rejected; 20 per cent believe there will be no second referendum and 12 per cent do not know.
Meanwhile parliament member Ross has said that he will vote No, in order to postpone a decision on the treaty, until details of a proposed agreement on economic growth in Europe are finalised.
Deputy Ross revealed to the Sunday Independent newspaper that he will reject the Treaty as a means of postponement until the situation in Europe and the implications of the Greek crisis become clearer.
Ross said: “It should have been postponed. We can still achieve postponement by defeating it.
“If we do, despite the Government’s denials, there will be a second referendum in the autumn.
“Many of us, passionately pro-European, want to support the European project. We want to vote ‘Yes’. We cannot, because we are being compelled to vote in a twilight zone.
“We are dancing to Angela Merkel’s, not the Irish people’s, timetable. Germany is still calling the shots in Europe. There was no reason to hold the referendum before the year end.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Bythebay | Jun 04, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT
There is apparent confusion in the US regarding what is being voted on. This is the Economic Stability Mechanism and is finalized. Obviously if it wasn't finalized it couldn't be voted on!
IrelandNorth | May 29, 2012, 08:57 AM EDT
We're being asked to vote on a treaty that hasn't even been finalised yet. Like a post dated cheque, for the beneficiary to fill in the amount later. What sense does that make. A la carte democracy is alive and well in Ireland. A bit like being in the army, you can have any colour as long as its green. You can vote any way you like as long as it's yes. Some of us would prefer a two track Europe, given its tower of babel economics. Enda is like a featherweight contender who has thrown in the towel before the bout has even started. Voting it down will mean a better deal later.
Bythebay | May 28, 2012, 05:31 PM EDT
aloistmartin, typical American, living in the past and bemoaning the present. What a sad state of mind you live in.
aloistmartin | May 28, 2012, 05:22 PM EDT
Bythebay@ Ireland Is, as Ireland Vote`st ? Would those Green Hills and Ravines, Pre-Historic Walls,those Early Christian Castles, that wavy Reddish Brown Hair, those eyes deep and colorful as an Autumn Wood; And those Cemeteries full of Celtic Crosses and Nationalist Heroes, would they Agree ?
Bythebay | May 27, 2012, 07:09 PM EDT
Democracy -- the Irish people will decide whether to vote yes or no by direct vote.
aloistmartin | May 27, 2012, 06:25 PM EDT
Democracy. Or, Indentured Servitude !
Murph46 | May 27, 2012, 04:10 PM EDT
Not one word about Greek withdrawl? What would that do?
Bythebay | May 27, 2012, 11:31 AM EDT
We won't be tossed out, there are treaties which we have which assure that. This treaty is not in our best interest and if it passes we will no doubt lose our Corporation Tax Rate and the corporations that came to Ireland because of that will be leaving the country.
Bailey2000 | May 27, 2012, 09:57 AM EDT
"I will vote no even though I am pro European but I dont like the timing".....What a fool. We need to vote Yes before Greece collapses or we will be tossed out too. Once the run on Spain and Italy starts in anger we better have signed up for fiscal rectitude or we are goosed. Irish parliamentarians should remind themselves of their appalling record in balancing the books before criticising Germany for doing a better job then they do.