The Chamber network overwhelmingly endorsed a Yes vote in the recent referendum campaign.

Many chambers have joined the Business for Europe Group and have actively undertaken lobbying campaigns that have demonstrated the strengths of the Chamber movement nationally.

The Campaign has produced a final communication with two days remaining to polling day.

We urge you to read it and use the information contained in it along with the press releases and links provided in recent weekly communications from Chambers Ireland to make one final push for supporting the Yes campaign with your stakeholders.

You should know that already we are taking calls from international media asking for our perspective on the treaty and why a Yes vote is so important.

The coverage of Ireland that will follow on the referendum decision is out of our control. But from our experience and from what we hear daily from senior Irish executives working in International businesses operating in Ireland, a Yes vote will give rise to much more favourable comment including a recognition of the work already undertaken in stabilizing our economy than will be the case if we Vote No.

A No vote will make the daily effort by Irish multinational company executives to ‘resell’ Ireland’s merits as an investment location more difficult with obvious implications for future investment decisions.

A Yes vote will be a huge step as we embark on a way forward out of the difficulties in which we find our economy and society at present... we urge you and your stakeholders to help deliver this positive Vote for all of our benefit.

5 reasons to vote Yes
Put Ireland First
The decision we make on Friday will have repercussions for many years to come. A Yes vote will send a positive signal to our European and international partners that Ireland wants to play a constructive role in the development of a more democratic, transparent and efficient EU. It will represent a small but important step on the road to economic recovery. A No vote will have significant negative consequences not only for Ireland, but for Europe.

Job Creation
The people who create jobs believe a Yes vote is important. Every leading business person wants a Yes vote. Every Chamber of Commerce, every agricultural co-op, every trade association, every exporter, every multinational based in Ireland is calling for a Yes vote. Other major groups including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, SIPTU and all the leading Irish trade unions are all supporting a Yes vote. Every leading economist believes a Yes vote is best. The Universities and Institutes of Technology have called for a Yes vote. They all know the decision we make is of great national importance.

Bin the Lies
Don’t believe the lies. The National Minimum Wage cannot be reduced to €1.84. Conscription, abortion, euthanasia cannot be imposed on us. Our neutrality is not under threat. Europe is the greatest peace project in history; it has brought 27 nations together to work in peace and cooperation. It is a great force for peace in the world and the biggest contributor of development aid. Irish people had genuine concerns when they rejected the Lisbon Treaty in June 2008.The other 26 member states listened to our concerns and have given us legally binding guarantees in those areas of concern to Irish people. The EU has also agreed that if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified we will keep a Commissioner. We have a new deal.

A great supporter of Ireland
Europe is a great supporter and friend of Ireland. For 36 years we have received significant transfer payments from our partners in the European Union. To date Ireland has received over €70 billion via the Common Agriculture Policy, the Social, Regional and Structural Funds and through the European Investment Bank. With that money we built roads, schools, colleges, training centres, a modern telecommunications system, and we modernised agriculture. While we represent 1% of the EU economy we will receive 15% of the European Central Bank Emergency Fund this year to deal with the financial crisis - an injection of approximately €120 billion into our system.

Don’t Risk the Future
There can be no complacency. While the polls are pointing to a Yes vote the result will depend on turnout. US President Barack Obama said “decisions are made by those who turn up”. Make sure you vote. Contact your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues at work. Call on them, phone them, send texts and emails. The risk of a No is too great. Vote Yes