The Workers’ Party have accused the Taoiseach of “speaking in riddles” in relation to the date for the referendum on the Fiscal Treaty and on whether the government would accept the democratic vote of the people if the treaty is rejected.

Workers’ Party President Michael Finnegan said that Enda Kenny needed to come clean and state categorically whether or not the government would accept the democratic decision of the Irish people if they reject the Fiscal Treaty.

“It is not good enough for the Taoiseach to glibly state that ‘we are not going to have a referendum every week’,  what the people want to know is whether a single referendum will suffice and that if the government don’t like it then they will accept that the Treaty has been defeated and is a dead duck”, said Mr. Finnegan.

“Unfortunately”, said the Workers’ Party President, “the Taoiseach wants to speak in riddles and leave his options open so that he can practice À la carte democracy.   If, even at this early stage in the debate, the government cannot give a straight answer to a simple question then the people can have little hope of honesty from the government and the Yes campaign in the referendum.  It will simply be another ‘we know best now take your medicine’ campaign directed by the EU Commission and the Troika”.

Issued 6th March 2012