JOAN BURTON WILL take control of the Labour Party’s ‘Yes’ campaign in the upcoming fiscal compact referendum, it has been announced.

The Minister for Social Protection has been appointed Director of Elections for the campaign by party leader and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

The referendum on the fiscal compact between European countries is due to take place on Thursday, May 31. Voters will be asked to approve the insertion of a new clause into the Constitution ratifying the compact – officially known as the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance.

Coalition parties Fine Gael and Labour, as well as Fianna Fáil, will be campaigning for a ‘Yes’ vote. Sinn Féin and a number of independents have said they will oppose the compact.

Eamon Gilmore said yesterday that Labour would be putting their “shoulder to the wheel” to encourage voters to back the treaty.

I believe that appointing somebody of Joan’s stature and experience is a clear indication as to how seriously the Labour Party is taking this campaign.

Joan Burton said she would be “ensuring that the Labour Party pulls out all the stops” in the campaign. “The Stability Treaty is critical element of ensuring the long-term recovery of this economy,” she said.

In their own words: What do TDs think of the fiscal treaty?>