Anti-Treaty Diary, May 9th – Fine Gael and Labour Mayors say ‘NO”

» Mark Moloney

Labour Deputy Mayor says many colleagues back ‘NO’ but won’t go public

A FINE GAEL Mayor and a Labour Deputy Mayor have rejected their leadership line and say they are going to  vote ‘NO’ against the Austerity Treaty.

Fine Gael Mayor of Longford James Keogh says that, “speaking as a business person”, he’s urging people to vote ‘NO’.

Deputy Mayor of Galway City Colette Connolly says there’s many people in the Labour Party who share her opposition to the Austerity Treaty but won’t say so publicly.

“I won't be voting for the treaty. It's anti-democratic. They shouldn't put issues about the Constitution to the people and say ‘If you don't support this, you’ll be punished’,” she said.

Fingal Labour Party Councillor Cian O’Callaghan describes the treaty as “a step too far”.

“I haven’t met anyone in the Labour Party who thinks this is the best idea ever. I hope it might be scrapped and a better model sought. There would be elected members who share my view.”

Despite Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív bottling his ‘showdown’ with the leadership, Leitrim Councillor Francie Gilmartin seems to be made of sterner stuff – he’s still calling for a 'No' vote and he’s not afraid to say so.