Comments on: The Irish Lisbon revote: in 9 months, 15 months, or never

By: Irish people to be made an offer they can’t refuse | afoe | A Fistful of Euros | European Opinion

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:40:19 +0000

[...] not surprising, but no less brazen for that: the Irish government will apparently propose later today at the EU [...]

By: The Lisbon wildcard | afoe | A Fistful of Euros | European Opinion

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:12:11 +0000

[...] Republic will have ratified the treaty without Klaus’s signature, Ireland will be promising a 2nd referendum in Autumn 2009, and there will be an alliance of seemingly fringe parties trying to convert this [...]

By: K353

K353 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:45:11 +0000

In God we trust says a dollar bill.

The economy has suffered here in Dublin too in the Emerald Island.

I hope the green party does not abandon us as then FF will be left. The better join up with Labour and Socialist party before more marches in the street.

The FAI (farmers Association are marching next week), yesterday (parents), previous week (pensioners). What has become of Eamon De Valera’s idea of the nanny state or is it a state that does not care about her children?

By: P O'Neill

P O'Neill — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:20:07 +0000

The latest noises from Ireland are for no quick decision on how to proceed, but a timeline that suggests a post-European Parliament elections referendum i.e. Autumn 2009.

The only way that parliamentary ratification would be politically viable would be if FF fooled FG into taking the lead on it.

By: Phew - The Brief Sarkozy Visit | Heard Any

Phew - The Brief Sarkozy Visit | Heard Any — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:27:58 +0000

[...] is the timelines. It is something we are busy denying the existence of, but as has pointed out elsewhere, Sarkozy and the EU are readily implementing a number of ‘time horizons’ which are [...]

By: coc

coc — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:04:29 +0000

Sorry about that link, can someone fix please? The turnout was 53% for Lisbon.

By: coc

coc — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:03:03 +0000

@Chris: The turnout was actually north of , which is more than respectable for a referendum in Ireland, comparing favourably with Nice II (49%) and Nice I (34%). The Irish electoral register is a bit shambolic, so these reported turnout figures are probably lower than the actual turnout. This is probably the main reason the Government is lukewarm about a rerun - the expectation is it would be lost again. With economic indicators all pointing downwards, people will be in the mood to give the Government a good kicking in 2009. I think Lisbon is dead and that we're still in the denial stage.

By: Garry Doyle

Garry Doyle — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:14:07 +0000

I am an indigenous Irishman, but I have to say; I wish people would realize that the Irish NO vote was nothing more than a belligerent, chip on the shoulder expression of general unhappiness in Ireland. Discussions regarding the Treaty in the Irish media prior to the vote were ridiculously uninformed. Most people voted NO because it is the Irish Catholic thing to do and most definitely not because of any deeply considered views!!

But even in this article we read of the possibility of Ireland being allowed to retain a Commissioner; don’t you all realize that Commissioners swear an oath to the EU – they are defenders of the Treaties and as such can do less for their own countries individually that any other EU servant! It was and remains a pointless consideration (other than the possibility of having a good national politician out of commission at home, so to speak;)

By: Paul Cadier

Paul Cadier — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:47:27 +0000

Damian’s tour d’ horizon, is spot on. The clique who control the European project do not want the Lisbon Treaty to be an issue in the june european parliamentary elections. Already eurocseptic groups in France and elsewhere are planning to turn these elections into the referendum on Lisbon they were denied. As long as Ireland is not a part of the Libson grouping it will leave the door open for a 2 speed europe that may prove attractive. Cameron will be under pressure to follow the Irish lead.
Don’t hold your breath though!

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:03:55 +0000

Why even hold a referendum in the first place if the Irish will be politically coerced in accepting the treaty in the end anyway? What if they do hold a second referendum in order to meet the deadlines and they again vote no? Is it the fault of the Irish that the average “voter” did not understand what the treaty stood for or is it the fault of the Commission who seemed to have left the Irish government in the cold at the end?

I mean granted the voter turnout was about 40%, on par or perhaps a little lower than what the average voter turnout for the European Parliament elections usually are. But I suppose it is important to inform the voters in what environment they are voting in, considering that everyone understands what these treaties mean in the first place.