People's Movement chairperson Patricia McKenna has slammed Europe for Ireland, a Brussels-based Yes campaign group, which has sent an email to EU officials in Brussels, offering them free flights to Ireland to campaign for a Yes vote. The name of the campaign is: "A Day in Ireland to Work for Europe - Free Flights".
The group's website features the offer, which says: "interested in travelling to Dublin to work for the Lisbon Treaty? Ryanair have offered us some free seats for people who volunteer to canvass for the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland." It reports that the flights to and from Ireland will be booked only for Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 September and 1 October. The website also states: "You must agree in writing to canvass for a Yes vote while in Dublin. We will put you in touch with one of the relevant organisations in Dublin. (If you do not turn up to canvass, your return flight may be jeopardised.)"
People's Movement Chairwoman Patricia McKenna has responded saying, "It is absolutely outrageous that EU officials are offering free flights to people to come to Ireland to canvas for a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum and it demonstrates the lengths to which EU officials are willing to go to get their own way on this issue...This is absolutely unbelievable and I am calling on those responsible to come out publicly and justify this deliberate interference in a sovereign decision of the Irish people."
Mike J Kirby
Convenor UNISON Scotland
