21 March 2001

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Equal funding and media coverage must be given to both sides in Treaty of Nice poll - Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein has said the State must ensure that there is a balanced debate and equal funding for both sides campaigning in the Treaty of Nice referendum on May 31st.

Sinn Fein is calling for a `No' vote because it says the Treaty of Nice  will further undermine Irish sovereignty, politically and economically, and bring Ireland closer into a European military alliance.  The party's spokesperson on EU Affairs, the Mayor of Sligo, Alderman Seán MacManus, said:

``For Sinn Fein, sovereignty means recognising the rights of the people, not ceding power to unelected officials.  We want to see Europe defending our democratic rights, not eroding them.

``This treaty will entirely change the economic, political and military face of Europe by moving us closer to an EU super state through the surrendering of national sovereignty, undermining of Irish neutrality, increasing centralisation, and lack of accountability.''

Alderman MacManus added:  ``The State must ensure that there is a balanced debate and equal funding for both sides.  There is a particular onus on the media to ensure even-handed coverage given the fact that the Government has given people only ten weeks to get to grips with this very important treaty.''  ENDS

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Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839   ·   Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

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