Ryanair to spend €500,000 on Lisbon ‘Yes’ campaign

“I believe it is vital that every Irish voter on 2 October next votes in the referendum and votes ‘Yes to Europe’. Ireland’s membership of the European Union and the euro has transformed our economy and the lives of millions of Irish people today,” said Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary (pictured).

He described how that without Europe and the euro, the Irish economy would be “run by our incompetent politicians, our inept civil service and the greedy public sector trade union bosses, who through social partnership have in recent years destroyed Ireland’s competitiveness”.

“Much of Ireland’s success in winning foreign direct investment over the past 20 years is directly related to Ireland’s membership of the EU and the euro,” O’Leary said, claiming that the Irish economy would have collapsed last year if not for Europe’s help.

“The difference between Iceland and Ireland was not one letter, but rather Ireland’s membership of the European Union and the euro,” he said.

Ryanair said its campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote will be supported by national newspaper and internet advertising, as well as seat sales and PR initiatives, which the airline said hopes will persuade many thousands of Irish voters, particularly younger voters, to vote for the Lisbon Treaty.

In a stinging criticism of the ‘No’ campaign, O’Leary described it as a “ragbag amalgam”.

“I can think of no better reason to vote ‘Yes to Europe’ than doing the opposite of that recommended by some of the headbangers who are calling for a no vote,” he said.