Smurfit Kappa’s McGann welcomes Irish ‘yes’ on EU treaty

Almost three-fifths of Ireland’s three million voters turned out and 67% of those backed the treaty that the Irish had previously rejected in June 2008.

McGann, who is a patron of the Ireland in Europe group, praised the result and said his interest was “not to destroy the future for my kids”. Voting ‘yes’ was also important to secure the firm’s overseas business interests.

He told Reuters news agency: “I’m old enough that it won’t matter. The damage would have been to the generations to come, the companies and the potential and talent that resides in this country needs an outlet and a marketplace.”

The vote came the day after Smurfit Kappa announced it was closing a Slovakian mill as it continues to tackle with overcapacity in the market.

The Lisbon Treaty replaces the European Constitution that was rejected by the French and Dutch in 2005. The issue is threatening to dominate the Conservative party conference that is being held in Manchester this week.

David Cameron has said he would hold a referendum on the treaty, if he were elected before all European countries had ratified it. Poland and the Czech Republic still have to fully endorse it, although it has been passed by the countries’ parliaments.

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