For those of you who are undecided on how to vote tomorrow, here are the reasons why I would undoubtedly vote no.


It is one of the greatest failings of our leaders to promote an idea that to be pro-European Union, you must support their agenda. If not, you are a euro sceptic. I am and always have been pro-Europe. I just want a fair and democratic one.


My decision is based, not on what the No or Yes side have poorly debated, but on the actual Compact Fiscal Treaty (not stability or austerity treaty).

1. The Treaty will enter into force once 12 euro zone countries ratify it on January 1, 2013. Only four countries have ratified this so far. Why is there a rush for Ireland to vote? Especially considering there could be an additional growth pact. France, the main driver of this growth pact, want tax harmonisation across Europe. This could affect our corporate tax rate and, having already signed off on an incomplete Treaty, we will have no say in this.
   
2. The ESM, if established, will have unlimited and unprecedented power with total immunity from any kind of investigation or prosecution (Article 27). Initially, we will contribute €1.27 billion to this undemocratic monster, rising to €11.1billion. Then, if the ESM demands additional money we only have seven days to pay up (Article 9). The validity of this, as stated by Article 27, can not be investigated! This will be a law we have to abide by. 
   
3. With relation to a bailout, the treaty states that: “Only countries that have ratified the fiscal compact and written balanced budget rule into national law will be eligible for bailouts from the European Stability Mechanism.” Our government only agreed to the addition of this clause to the Treaty, AFTER it had been fully negotiated and signed off. It was clear to the powers that be, that the treaty would not pass without this back mail clause.
   
4. The straitjacket that this treaty will enshrine into our constitution could have done nothing to prevent Ireland's current economic crisis and could therefore not prevent another one from happening. 
   
   The treaty states that, 'The budgetary position of the general government shall be balanced or in surplus' - the Irish government actually upheld this budgetary position in the run up to the economic crisis. According to the IMF, between 2000 and 2007 the government held a surplus in six out of seven years. In fact, the Centre for Economic and Policy Research said that Ireland was a model of fiscal responsibility in the years leading up to its current disaster.
   
   Now, of course, is a very different story for Ireland. On 23 April 2012 Eurostat issued a document stating that the Irish budgetary deficit for 2011 was 13.1%. The Fiscal Treaty states that we will be fined if can not balance this or return to surplus. 
   
   This does not make any sense! Fining someone who is in such massive debt will throw them deeper and deeper into debt. With emigration at record levels, together with unemployment at around 14.3%, what is likely to happen if further ‘austerity’ is pursued?

Who is benefiting from following European Central Bank rules?

Would we need another bailout if we were not hemorrhaging money into a defunct banking system??? 

• €2.25 billion was paid on Monday

• €8 million today

• €50 million next Saturday

• €57 million the following Monday and on and on. 

Reckless rich people in the UK, Germany, and France took a bet on AIB, Bank of Ireland and Anglo. The Irish bankers in turn gambled on property speculators - and THEY all lost. But ordinary taxpayers, who had no role in creating this debt, were forced by Europe to pay the bondholders, as though they won! Billions are being stolen from our struggling economy. 

Look at the recent youth unemployment figures, it is clear why Germany want Frankfurt's way:

• Spain 50.5%

• Greece 50.4%

• Italy 31.9%

• Ireland 31.6%

• France 21.7%

• UK 22.2%

• Germany 8.2%

In Ireland’s case, this is added to the 70,000 people which are now emigrating every year - nine citizens each hour. This is higher than the levels of the late 1980s.

A destination point for many, and reluctantly my home away from my friends and family, is Australia. 

Is there another way?

During the global financial crisis in Australia, the Rudd Labour Government gave $900 to each household to stimulate the economy – one of the reasons why Australia avoided recession. This was in spite of running a deficit for the past number of years. If they were to sign a treaty similar to the Compact Fiscal Treaty, their deficit would be fined. They would be unable to stimulate the economy and the unemployment rate would not be at its current low of 4.9% (close to Ireland’s unemployment rate in the celtic tiger years).

In a world where other governments go to work and stand up for the interests of their nation’s people, Enda Kenny and co. are the suppliant ones - we’re the yes men of Europe and don’t even ask for anything in return!

A no vote could force the government to actually fulfil their election promises, restructure our (bank) debts within Europe and receive debt forgiveness (Greece received a 50% reduction in debt). A reduction in our debt would free up money to invest in infrastructure development and jobs, helping to create growth. 

A yes vote could be considered 'safer' but it is not, in any way, in the best interests of ordinary working people. Recent figures show that the richest 10% in Ireland achieved 8% more wealth. The bottom 10% lost 28% of their income. Like Germany, it is clear who in Ireland will benefit from a yes vote.

So if I could, I would vote no. We owe it to ourselves, to future generations and to the peoples of Europe, who are denied a part in this process, to oppose a trajectory that will vandalise society and impoverish lives throughout the Union.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.”