Ryanair calls for "yes to Europe" vote on 2nd October

1. Without the EU's policy on competition and deregulation, neither Ryanair nor the low fares air travel model would have survived or thrived in Europe. Ryanair's low fares have been the bedrock for the extraordinary growth and development of Ireland's tourism industry over the past 10 years.

2. 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. Ireland must continue to be at the heart of Europe and not on its periphery.

3. During the recent banking and financial crisis, Ireland's membership of the Euro meant that Europe and the European Central Bank (ECB) came to the rescue of the Irish banks and the Irish economy and prevented an Iceland style collapse of the Irish banks and Ireland's public finances.

4. Without Europe and the ECB, Ireland's economy would be run by our incompetent politicians, our inept civil service and the greedy trade union bosses, who have over the last decade - through social partnership - shattered Ireland's competitiveness by protecting the narrow vested interests of the public sector trade unions while promoting an explosion of expensive, useless, self sustaining quangos. Ryanair will spend more than €500,000 campaigning for a "Yes to Europe" vote on 2nd October next. Ryanair's campaign for a yes vote will be supported by national newspaper and internet advertising as well as seat sales and PR initiatives which Ryanair hopes will persuade many thousands of Irish voters, particularly younger ones, to turn out on 2nd October and vote "Yes to Europe". Speaking today Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said: "I believe it is vital that every Irish voter on 2nd 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. "Thanks to Ryanair - which would not exist without the EU's policies on promoting competition and deregulation of air travel - millions of Irish people think nothing of travelling all over Europe at very low air fares. Ryanair's success has transformed Ireland's tourism industry over the last 20 years, a success which is now being threatened by the failed policies of the current Government of taxing tourists and protecting the narrow vested interest of the Government owned high cost DAA airport monopoly. "Ireland's future success depends on being at the heart of Europe and our membership of the Euro. The European Central Bank came to Ireland's rescue last year when the combination of appalling mismanagement by Bertie Ahern's government over the past decade left Ireland hopelessly unprepared for the effect of the property/banking crisis and the recession which would, if it were not for Europe's help, have caused a collapse of the Irish economy. The difference between Iceland and Ireland was not one letter, but rather Ireland's membership of the European Union and the Euro. "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, created an epidemic of useless quangos and feathered the nests of the public sector at the expense of ordinary consumers in Ireland.

I believe that Ireland must vote "Yes to Europe" on 2nd October; otherwise our economic future will be destroyed by Government and Civil Service mismanagement and the narrow vested interests of the public sector trade unions. Finally, 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. When one looks at the ragbag amalgam of the "no" campaign, led by economic illiterates like Sinn Fein, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Socialist Party it seems clear to me that Ireland should vote "Yes to Europe" on 2nd October next, and I sincerely hope that we will."