The Independent Chairman of the Referendum Commission has confirmed that Ireland would be cut off from one source of EU funding – if people reject the EU fiscal treaty.
However Mr Justice Kevin Feeney says its a matter for political debate as to whether other sources of funding would be available in the event of a NO vote.
Opponents to the treaty claim the EU and the IMF would not deprive Ireland of emergency funding if the treaty is rejected.
But Commission Chairman Judge Kevin Feeney says it’s not within his remit to say if other sources of funding would be available to Ireland after the vote.
Fianna Fail says voting YES in the upcoming referendum will mean less austerity.
The party – which is today launching its campaign supporting the EU Fiscal Stability Treaty – says for Ireland to recover, the country needs Europe’s support.
Fianna Fail says the treaty is not the answer to all of Ireland’s problems – but it is an important part of the solution.
The party leader Michael Martin is urging the electorate to put the issues of daily politics to one side when considering their position.
Meanwhile, the United Left Alliance is calling on Irish people to send a "rocket across the boughs of the government" by rejecting the EU Treaty.
The ULA has launched its campaign for a No vote in the referendum next month.
Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party says the blackmail clause of access to the ESM bailout fund is being used to threaten Irish people.
And he says the government is wrongly suggesting Ireland will be isolated from the rest of Europe in the event of a No vote.
"Now we’re being threatened that we’ll be isolated, they’ll want to kick us out into the Mid-Atlantic if we don’t pass their austerity treaty" he said.
"So I’m afraid that the government’s position is just racked from start to finish with contradictions and with simply grabbing at whatever threat seems closest" he added.
