29/09/2009

SDLP Leader Urges 'Yes' On Lisbon

Mark Durkan is heading back across the border today.

Just days after taking part in a Dublin meeting to support a 'Yes' vote in the coming Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the SDLP Leader (pictured) is to join Brendan Smith, a local TD, in Cavan town to canvass support in Friday's referendum.

This is just one of a number of events in which SDLP representatives are turning out to support parties and organisations campaigning for a positive response in the Lisbon referendum.

Last week, he led a party delegation to a meeting attended by other pro-Lisbon supporters including Irish government ministers in the Irish capital.

Mr Durkan said: "The Lisbon Treaty will make Europe more effectively democratic, more responsive to economic needs, better able to defend its interests and also to promote its values.

"With Lisbon we can deal more effectively with some of the new key issues of this century: such as climate change, energy security, public health, clean air and organised crime.

"It is a dangerous delusion for the 'No' campaign to pretend that a second rejection will be followed by negotiations for "more improvements" to meet Irish concerns," he insisted.

Meanwhile, the party has also been speaking out on the Irish Republic's bid to ease the current recession.

SDLP Finance spokesperson Declan O'Loan MLA said it was necessary for the Irish government to intervene in order to fix a 'broken banking system' and ensure a flow of credit to business.

Speaking in the Assembly against a Sinn Féin motion opposing the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA), he said: "There is broad agreement that the banking system needs to be fixed in order to ensure credit is made available at a time when the banks find it difficult to borrow in international markets.

"Sinn Féin has called for a referendum on NAMA and were involved in organising an anti-NAMA protest last week in Dublin at which only 1,500 turned up. It is clear that people have moved on.

"The NAMA model was not chosen by chance, but was carefully designed by independent experts and has backing from the IMF and the European Central Bank." he insisted, yesterday.

See: SDLP Leader Wades Into Lisbon Debate

(BMcC/KMcA)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 September 2009
SDLP Leader Wades Into Lisbon Debate
The leader of the SDLP was in Dublin yesterday to discuss the Lisbon Treaty. Mark Durkan (pictured) and the party's Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell led a party delegation to a meeting attended by other pro-Lisbon supporters including Irish government ministers.
10 October 2011
Robinson Welcomes Homecoming Troops
There have been double celebrations over the weekend as hundreds lined the streets to honour soldiers who have just returned from a difficult tour of duty in Afghanistan.
07 October 2011
Alert Fails To Halt Combat Soldiers' Welcome
Military personnel from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards and 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment are in Northern Ireland for a number of key events this weekend with a parade and display taking place this afternoon.
30 September 2011
RIR And Irish Guards Win Gallantry Awards
Soldiers on route to Northern Ireland for a series of public engagements this week are among the 25 men from the Irish Guards and Royal Irish Regiment who have just been awarded honours for bravery.
15 September 2011
Change Of Location For Troops Homecoming Parade
The Irish Guards and Royal Irish Regiment are to take part in a homecoming ceremony at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Showgrounds in October. The Ministry of Defence turned down an initial offer from Belfast City Council for parade through the city, citing "post-operational duties.