Why I’m Voting Yes- Julie O’Leary

With the power that democracy gives us comes responsibility- a responsibility to make the right choice for Ireland on May 31st. I’m voting Yes because I believe the Treaty will bring certainty, stability, and put Ireland on the best possible path to economic recovery.

We have seen in recent times how what happens in one country can effect the entire Eurozone. No longer can we ignore the politics of Greece, Spain or Italy- decisions made in these countries have an impact on the Irish economy and the Irish people. We share a currency with 17 other states, and this Treaty provides for our Governments to work closer together to create the best future possible for people across Europe.
The fiscal rules and structural deficit rules in this treaty will restore stability to Ireland and the Eurozone. Reckless borrowing was a fact of life in some Eurozone states, and this treaty makes it clear that this is no longer acceptable. These rules are already part of European law, but this Treaty makes sure they are written into the national law of each member state. No country, big or small, will be able to break the rules and endanger the entire Eurozone economy.
Ireland needs access to the ESM. Those who say otherwise are willing to take chances on our future, chances we can’t afford. Whether we require future funding or not, the ESM is like an insurance policy and helps create certainty. It gives investors and job-creators confidence in Ireland’s future. This will help us to go back to the bond markets and wave goodbye to the IMF as soon as possible.
This Treaty will not solve all our problems, but it is an important step on the path to recovery. Rejecting the Treaty leads us into uncharted waters, instability and confusion. Saying Yes will help us restore our economic sovereignty and create the right environment for growth and job creation. This Treaty is good for Europe and good for Ireland. Vote Yes on May 31st to give Ireland the best chance for a better future.

Julie O’Leary, International Secretary, Young Fine Gael

Related articles

• Why I am Voting Yes – For Stability (stephenspillane.com)
• The honest No voices on our chances of funding (williamquill.com)
• YFG Launches YES Campaign (stephenspillane.com)

Priorities of the Danish EU Presidency 2012- European Parliament Offices, 23rd of February 2012.

Hosted by Gay Mitchell MEP, with Guest Speakers: H.E. The Danish Ambassador, Niels Pultz, Former Taoiseach and EU Ambassador to the United States, John Bruton, Former Senator, Eugene Regan

Embassy Liaison Officer, John Kennedy, opened the meeting with introductory remarks. He briefly outlined the credentials of each guest speaker. He conveyed a message from Colm Lauder imparting best wishes to the Danish Government for their seventh term as President of the Council of the European Union from the Board of the Youth of the EPP. He concluded his remarks as follows:

“Ireland is due to host the EU Presidency in 2013 and this committee would certainly intend to be very active participants in this. In addition, it is hoped that this talk will impart valuable insight into the current state of the European Union and its immediate future objectives. One aspect of particular prominence in recent times has been an almost existential crisis afflicting the Euro currency.

As one Prince of Denmark may have put it, some commentators may have had the attitude along the lines of “To be, or not to be – that is the question” regarding the future survival and viability of the single currency.

This evening is also an opportunity to hear the perspective of a fellow member state of similar size and population to our own country. Ireland and Denmark, for example, both have strong worldwide reputations for their respective agricultural sectors, and one question will be on the future of such industry within Europe. Denmark has had its own banking sector issues to address in some comparison with our own and one method it has attempted to adopt by way of this has been the bank specific ‘Supervisory Diamond”, and it was recommended by a recent OECD Economic Survey on Ireland that the Irish financial regulator should consider aspects of this tool for implementation in Ireland. This perhaps may be of very strong interest for Irish public representatives to consider, given the OECD recommendation.”

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