IRELAND: Irish vote in referendum which holds the fate of the EU treaty in the balance

Record ID: 784829

  • Title: IRELAND: Irish vote in referendum which holds the fate of the EU treaty in the balance
  • Date: 12th June 2008
  • Summary: (W3)DUBLIN, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (JUNE 12, 2008) (REUTERS) SINN FEIN MEP MARY LOU MCDONALD WALKING INSIDE POLLING STATION MCDONALD REGISTERING TO VOTE MCDONALD IN POLLING BOOTH CLOSE OF BALLOT PAPER MCDONALD DROPPING BALLOT IN BOX MCDONALD WITH REPORTERS OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINN FEIN MEP MARY LOU MCDONALD SAYING: "Today they will adjudicate and th
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ireland
  • Country: Ireland
  • Topics: European Union,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA824XFA1U6OZ42DTBU0BTAPI2J
  • Story Text: Irish voters go to the polls to determine the fate of the European Union's reform treaty in a referendum that could easily go either way. Sinn Fein Member of the European Parliament Mary Lou McDonald says the result of the Irish referendum on EU treaty depends on turnout and will be a close call.
    Ireland voted on Thursday (June 12) in a referendum that will decide the fate of a European Union (EU) treaty to streamline decision making in the 27 member bloc.
    Ireland is the only one of the 27 EU member states holding a referendum. The result of the poll in the country which accounts for less than 1 percent of the bloc's population of 490 million population could derail a pact designed to reform how it is run.
    A survey last week put opponents ahead for the first time, causing consternation in Brussels where policy chiefs need ratification from all member states to implement the replacement for a constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
    The treaty, designed to streamline how a fast-expanding European Union is run, will create a long-term president of the European Council of EU leaders and a stronger foreign policy chief. It would also develop a more democratic voting system and give a greater say to national and European parliaments.
    The last opinion poll of the campaign published at the weekend, showed opponents of the Lisbon treaty gaining ground but put the "Yes" vote slightly ahead.
    Most politicians, businesses, the congress of trade unions and powerful farming groups have called for a "Yes" vote, but accept that the result is likely to be close, saying that a complex treaty text has made it a hard sell to voters.
    John O'Farrell, a banker in Dublin said he had understood the issues, "I voted yes, I went through the documentation for the Referendum Commission, I... seemed that the changes in the Lisbon Treaty were reasonable."
    However council worker Karl Dolan told Reuters, "I voted no, because I don't understand the document, it's just that simple you know, you don't understand it you should vote no."
    Also voting on Pearse Street, a mixed area of central Dublin where working class housing estates and new developments in Ireland's regenerated docklands sit side by side, pharmacist David Hyland said, "I voted yes, probably quite a few things to clarify but overall the balance of things is I probably feel the considerations just voted a yes."
    But maternity assistant Michelle Waller said, "I voted no because I believe we can get a better deal."
    Among the morning voters were Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen and Ireland's President Mary Mcaleese.
    Opponents of the EU treaty such as nationalist party Sinn Fein say Brussels and the Irish government have tried to bully people into backing the treaty but argue it should be renegotiated to better protect Ireland's sovereignty, military neutrality and influence.
    After casting her vote Sinn Fein Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Mary Lou McDonald said the people of Ireland "will decide whether or not what has been delivered is sufficient or whether or not we wish to open up a new political opportunity to actually address the issues that we are not satisfied have been secured in this treaty."
    Regarding the result McDonald told Reuters, "It'll depend on turnout, so let's wait and see, I think it will be a close call."
    Turnout will be key after Ireland almost scuppered EU plans for eastwards expansion by rejecting the Nice treaty in a 2001 referendum where only 35 percent of the electorate voted. It was eventually passed in a second vote but Ireland's politicians insist a rerun is not an option this time round.
    Fourteen countries have already ratified it in their national parliaments but EU leaders fear some countries such as Britain may suspend the process if Ireland votes "No".
    Pollingat 10 p.m. (2100 GMT). No exit polls are planned and the result is expected on Friday.
    Politicians say the European Union has no fallback position if the treaty is rejected, given it is already a replacement for the defunct constitution.
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