IRELAND: FIRST RETURNS IN IRELAND'S SECOND REFERENDUM ON THE NICE TREATY GIVES STRONG LEAD TO THE "YES" VOTE
Record ID:
647933
IRELAND: FIRST RETURNS IN IRELAND'S SECOND REFERENDUM ON THE NICE TREATY GIVES STRONG LEAD TO THE "YES" VOTE
- Title: IRELAND: FIRST RETURNS IN IRELAND'S SECOND REFERENDUM ON THE NICE TREATY GIVES STRONG LEAD TO THE "YES" VOTE
- Date: 19th October 2002
- Summary: (W1) DUBLIN, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (OCTOBER 19, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PAN: PEOPLE WALKING WITH ELECTRONIC BALLOTS 0.08 2. MV: REFERENDUM COMMISSION STAFF COUNTING BALLOTS 0.13 3. SV/CU: WORKERS GOING THROUGH ENVELOPE OF CARTRIDGE (2 SHOTS) 0.22 4. MV/SV: REFERENDUM WORKERS LOOKING AT RESULTS ON COMPUTER/ OFFICIALS LOOKING ON (2 SHOTS) 0.33 5. VARIOUS OF OFFICIAL PLACING ELECTRONIC CARTRIDGE TO BE TABULATED (2 SHOTS) 0.45 6. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED OFFICIAL ANNOUNCING RESULTS FOR ONE OF THE 6 CONSTITUENCIES (IN DUBLIN) WITH MAJORITY FOR YES "The total poll was 24,373. 'Yes' was 14,716 - 60.38%. 'No' was 9,657 - 39.62%." 1.03 7. SV: "YES" SUPPORTERS CLAPPING AND CHEERING 1.09 8. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English ) OFFICIAL ANNOUNCING MAJORITY YES VOTE IN ANOTHER CONSTITUENCY "Total votes cast 51,229. And votes were cast as follows: 'Yes' 37,096 - percentage 72.41. 'No' - 14,133 - percentage 27.59." 1.30 9. SCU/SV: "YES" SUPPORTERS CLAPPING AND CHEERING (2 SHOTS) 1.40 10. SV: "YES" AND "NO" SUPPORTERS PUSHING EACH OTHER INSIDE THE HALL 2.09 11. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT CHIEF WHIP MARY HANAFIN FIANNA FAIL, RULING PARTY SAYING: "Well, the results from Dublin County and (inaudible) constituencies are very, very positive. Not only was there an increase in the number of people who voted, their was a very strong "yes" vote and I hope that that will be reciprocated now throughout the rest of the country tomorrow. I think it's indicative of a very strong campaign carried out. It was a door-to-door campaign which meant that we were able to answer the issues and the questions that people had. And selling the message of jobs, economy and growth, showing how much Ireland has gained from Europe over the last 30 years and the fact that we want other countries to benefit from the same opportunities." 2.42 12. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEO VARADKAR FIANNA GAIL 'YES SUPPORTER' SAYING: "It's the biggest "yes" vote we've got in the European referendum since 1986. We're going to carry it in every single district in the country. If this result is projected throughout the country, we're going to carry 65 to 35, so that's a massive majority, yes. It's 2 to 1. We know where our own space in Europe is now." 3.00 13. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) SEAN CROWE SINN FEIN 'NO SUPPORTER' SAYING: "I'm happy enough that we got the Sinn Fein vote out. I'm disappointed, certainly. The view I would have is that the direction that Europe is going after if this vote is ratified, is a more centralised Europe, a more militarised Europe. I think it undermines our sovereignty and neutrality, but the Irish people have decided." 3.20 14. SV: "YES" SUPPORTERS CHEERING 3.28 15. SCU: "NO" SUPPORTERS INCLUDING JUSTIN BARRAT, ALLIED TO "NO-TO-NICE" CAMPAIGN AND HIS FAMILY WEARING "NO TO NICE" T-SHIRTS AND STICKERS 3.36 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 3rd November 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DUBLIN, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
- Country: Ireland
- Reuters ID: LVA4KZ0Z10UUC4NUNWA7ZDDAIIWJ
- Story Text: The first returns in Ireland's second referendum on an
EU enlargement treaty gave a strong lead to the "Yes" vote in
a count of six districts out of 42 nationwide, officials said.
The "Yes" vote won by a range of 57 percent in one
district up to 73 percent in another of the six counted almost
immediately after voting ended.
Irish voters signalled a heavy vote in favour of the
Treaty of Nice plans to enlarge the European Union within two
hours of the close of polling in a constitutional referendum
on Saturday (October 19).
The results came from all but one of the seven districts
in the country, mostly from Dublin, using electronic ballots,
which were being counted on the same night at 9 p.m. (2000
GMT).
The outcome - which is set for confirmation later on
Sunday (October 20)- marked a major success for Irish prime
minister Bertie Ahern's bid to reverse a shock nationwide vote
against the Nice concept a little more than a year ago.
The big turnaround was signposted in double-quick time
thanks to electronic voting, in use for the first time in an
Irish plebiscite.
The system was utilised in seven of Ireland's 42
parliamentary constituencies and it speedily highlighted a big
"Yes" response in each of them.
Counting of votes cast manually in the rest of the Dail
divisions will begin in the morning. But it was clear last
night that the rest of the country would largely reflect the
swing to Nice in six Dublin constituencies and nearby Co
Meath.
Some rural areas may not echo in full the enthusiasm for
the Treaty that was demonstrated in and around the capital,
but the overall result was still forecast to be a significant
Yes nationwide.
Parties lined up against Nice - including Sinn Fein, the
Greens and the Irish pro-life movement - conceded victory to
the massed ranks of the Ahern government and the chief
opposition parties as soon as the early results came in.
Sinn Fein's Sean Crowe said: "I'm happy enough that we got
the Sinn Fein vote out. I'm disappointed, certainly. The view
I would have is that the direction that Europe is going after
if this vote is ratified, is a more centralised Europe, a more
militarised Europe. I think it undermines our sovereignty and
neutrality, but the Irish people have decided."
And an official from the Green Party admitted "It has been
a bad day for us."
But the switch in favour of Nice clearly delighted many
'Yes' supporters. Leo Varadkar, Fianna Gail 'Yes' supporter
said: "It's the biggest "yes" vote we've got in the European
referendum since 1986. We're going to carry it in every single
district in the country. If this result is projected
throughout the country, we're going to carry 65 to 35, so
that's a massive majority, yes. It's 2 to 1. We know where our
own space in Europe is now."
The government was also pleased with the outcome. As
delighted supporters close-by wrapped themselves in the blue,
yellow-starred European flag in the headquarters of the Royal
Dublin Society, deputy prime minister Mary Harney said: "I
think the Dublin vote represents the country at large, and
would think it will be 60-40 in favour when all the votes are
counted.
Government Chief Whip Mary Hanafin said the Dublin result
was "very encouraging".
She added: "Not only was there an increase in the number
of people who voted, their was a very strong "yes" vote and I
hope that that will be reciprocated now throughout the rest of
the country tomorrow."
Fears in the Yes camp that the current unpopularity of the
Ahern government as it struggles with a slumping economy might
prompt a referendum protest vote were not borne out.
And the premier's strategy of launching a relentless
campaign to reverse the last result were more than justified,
following allegations that ministerial enthusiasm in the
run-up to the first referendum was generally regarded as low
level.
The manual count is expected to last most of Sunday with
the final figures and the official result due to be announced
in Dublin Castle by early Sunday evening.
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