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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Irish Labour leader denies Hollande win would be blow for yes campaign | Irish Labour leader denies Hollande win would be blow for yes campaign |
| (30 days later) | |
| Ireland's foreign minister and Labour leader has denied that a François Hollande victory in the French presidential election next weekend will make it harder for the Irish government to convince people to vote in favour of the EU fiscal pact. | Ireland's foreign minister and Labour leader has denied that a François Hollande victory in the French presidential election next weekend will make it harder for the Irish government to convince people to vote in favour of the EU fiscal pact. |
| Eamon Gilmore rejected suggestions that Hollande's demand for growth-boosting elements to be included in the EU's new fiscal regime would be seized upon by those calling for a no vote in the 31 May referendum. Sinn Féin and other opponents of the treaty have already claimed Hollande's programme is in direct opposition to the austerity policies the Irish government wants voters to endorse. | Eamon Gilmore rejected suggestions that Hollande's demand for growth-boosting elements to be included in the EU's new fiscal regime would be seized upon by those calling for a no vote in the 31 May referendum. Sinn Féin and other opponents of the treaty have already claimed Hollande's programme is in direct opposition to the austerity policies the Irish government wants voters to endorse. |
| Gilmore and Labour, who are the junior partners in the coalition government, are under increasing pressure from their left flank after two Irish trade unions, representing 100,000 workers, this week called for a no vote. | Gilmore and Labour, who are the junior partners in the coalition government, are under increasing pressure from their left flank after two Irish trade unions, representing 100,000 workers, this week called for a no vote. |
| Irish voters are to decide whether to ratify or reject the EU fiscal pact, which would severely limit national government spending programmes. | Irish voters are to decide whether to ratify or reject the EU fiscal pact, which would severely limit national government spending programmes. |
| Gilmore, who is also the deputy prime minister, rejected claims a Hollande victory would make life harder for those trying to secure a yes vote in the referendum. "As I understand, François Hollande is talking about a jobs and growth agenda for Europe," he said. "The Irish government has been talking about that agenda when the treaty was agreed at the January EU summit. | Gilmore, who is also the deputy prime minister, rejected claims a Hollande victory would make life harder for those trying to secure a yes vote in the referendum. "As I understand, François Hollande is talking about a jobs and growth agenda for Europe," he said. "The Irish government has been talking about that agenda when the treaty was agreed at the January EU summit. |
| He continued: "The election of a French president who would support such an agenda, to drive and put an emphasis on jobs and growth would be something that the Irish government would very much welcome." | He continued: "The election of a French president who would support such an agenda, to drive and put an emphasis on jobs and growth would be something that the Irish government would very much welcome." |
| Gilmore said the referendum was all about Ireland being in a position to access emergency funds from its European partners to keep public services running. | Gilmore said the referendum was all about Ireland being in a position to access emergency funds from its European partners to keep public services running. |
| Appealing to public sector workers over the heads of many of their trade union leaders, Gilmore said: "If we don't have access to emergency funding the question that will inevitably arise is where will the money come from to pay the wages and salaries of the people who work in the public sector." | Appealing to public sector workers over the heads of many of their trade union leaders, Gilmore said: "If we don't have access to emergency funding the question that will inevitably arise is where will the money come from to pay the wages and salaries of the people who work in the public sector." |
| His Labour colleague and fellow cabinet minister, Joan Burton, put the choice facing the Irish electorate in even starker terms. Burton said the vote was about continuing to borrow with a credit union or leaving to look for help from a loan shark. | His Labour colleague and fellow cabinet minister, Joan Burton, put the choice facing the Irish electorate in even starker terms. Burton said the vote was about continuing to borrow with a credit union or leaving to look for help from a loan shark. |
| Opinion polls are showing a slim majority still favour of a yes vote. However, in the last snapshot of public opinion in the Irish Times last week, up to 40% of voters remained undecided. | Opinion polls are showing a slim majority still favour of a yes vote. However, in the last snapshot of public opinion in the Irish Times last week, up to 40% of voters remained undecided. |
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