Fianna Fail looking for a'yes' before going to the country

Premier Jack Lynch whose works in the Dail (parlia with a minority of 70 MPs E a combined opposition of wants to recoup lost seats. imen igain 74. H FROM SARAH HANNIGAN EIRE may face a General Election within the next two months.

Feeling in Dublin is that if the ruling Fianna Fail party is successful in achieving a majority 'Yes' vote on the Common Market entry referendum on May 10, then its leaders may immediately lay plans for a June election.

Speculation was increased last Thursday after the announcement that Fine Gael-the right-wing opposition party in the Dail (parliament)-has instituted a major re-shufile of its frontbench spokesmen.

Commenting on the re-shuffle decision, Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrove said it had been taken because the present Dail was within 'measurable distance of a General Election'.

The Fine Gael re-shuffle came hours after Eire's Finance Minister George Colley announced details of what being hailed in Ireland as his 'give-away' Budget.

Obviously a Budget with the coming EEC referendum vote in mind, it gave extra money to the old, retired, disabled and unemployed, while at the same time increasing income tax allowance.

Farmers were also given a sop in the form of increased milk prices and a £35,000 hand-out to start implementing EEC directives on agricultural reform.

In addition to increased pensions, the over-70s are now allowed free travel, while all old age pensioners' free electricity allowance will be trebled, from October to March and doubled lor the rest ot the year. for the rest of the year mackage', Colley referred to the current national wage agreement discussions • between unions and employers.

Stating that he had 'no doubt' that the discussions would take notice of the 'needs of the current • economic situation, Colley went on:

I would be failing in my responsibilities if I did not spell out the objectives on the incomes front.

'With many unemployed and many redundancies threatened, it would be inexcusable if the community as a whole had to divert to serious inflationary pay rises, money which could be used directly for providing new jobs!

in this light, the Sudget can be understood in the nature of a 'last-ditch stand' bý Jack Lynch's Fianna Fail government In attempts to successfully manoeuvre the 26-counties into the Common Market.

At present Fianna Fail is in the position of the position of working in Dail with a minority of 70 MPs against a combined opposition of 74—covering Fine Gael and Labour Party MPs. A General Election after a successful 'Yes' referendum vote could possibly recoup lost seats and strengthen Fianna Fail's hand.

In the past week campaigning for the Common Market vote has been stepped up. The Irish Labour Party and the big unions have declared their opposition.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has circulated 500,000 copies of its 'black paper' which warns that thousands of workers will lose their jobs and that the country would face economic catastrophe inside the EEC.

Independent MP for MidUlster, Miss Bernadette Devlin, has announced that she will be campaigning in the 26-counties in the coming weeks against entry.

With Fine Gael and the powerful Farmers' Association supporting entry, however, it is thought that Jack Lynch will have the country's agreement when the votes are counted in May. Eire's Finance Minister George Colley recently announced 'give-away' Budget geared to winning extra support.

to heart. Only disciplined mass action can now defeat the system.

'Now is the time to organize and fight back'