DONEGAL Senator Jimmy Harte has accused Sinn Fein of using Soviet-style propaganda in its campaign for a No vote on the Fiscal Treaty next month.
“The antics of Sinn Fein are a throw back to the days of PRAVDA newspaper during the Kremlin regime in the Soviet Union,” claimed Harte.
The state run newspaper’s name became a byword for censorship and truth bending.
Senator Harte claimed a pamphlet issued by SF “to back up their flawed arguments on the Fiscal Treaty has been exposed as misleading and shows the public that they have no interest in the treaty and more interest in political gain.”
He insisted: “It’s time they became responsible and put the citizens first.”
He said Sinn Fein’s anti-Treaty leaflet quotes three economists (Karl Whelan, Colm McCarthy and Seamus Coffey) to bolster advocating a No vote.
All three are in favour of the Treaty, said Harte.
The examples he gave are below:
KARL WHELAN QUOTE
From the Sinn Fein leaflet:
“…the economics of this treaty are pretty terrible…”
… KARL WHELAN, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, UCD
What they don’t quote is that he went on to say:
“On balance, the arguments favour Ireland signing up to it.”
COLM MCCARTHY QUOTE
From the Sinn Fein leaflet:
“As an exercise in addressing the Eurozone’s twin banking and sovereign debt crises, the fiscal compact makes no worthwhile contribution.”
COLM MCCARTHY, SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, UCD
What they don’t quote:
Articles written by Colm McCarthy in recent weeks advocating a Yes vote include the following:
“Voting No is a leap in the dark that we can’t afford”,
Colm McCarthy, 1 April 2012. Irish Independent article –headline.
“A Yes vote is the correct response, unavoidable and in the country’s best interests”
Colm McCarthy, 18 February 2012, Irish Independent article -headline.
SEAMUS COFFEY QUOTE
From the Sinn Fein leaflet:
“Had the fiscal compact been in place since 1999 it could not and would not have prevented the crisis in Ireland.”
SEAMUS COFFEY, SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, UCC
What they don’t quote:
“All in all there is little to be gained from rejecting the Treaty.”
Seamus Coffey , on his blog, on 15 March 2012
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