Lisbon treaty

[Airway]

Even if it is a month ago that Irelands citizen voted No to
the lisbon treaty I would like to thank them here to as I was absent so long from this site

Thank you to the Irish people !
This day gives me hope!

Only one country in Europe where the people can vote and have influence on their future in a democratic way.
Ireland. It stands for democracy.

And the Irish people voted right!

They not only spoke for themselves, they also spoke for all the people in Europe who were ignored by their government and authorities by not letting their citizen vote about this treaty.

I am happy that the Irish saw the disadvantages in the Lisbon treaty for their country, and for the rest of Europe.

Germany says Thank You Ireland!
Thank you our Irish friends !
We stand behind you and support you.
Together we stand strong !

[Alexandre Boulet]

Poland and switzerland voted no also... :)

[Felicia]

I was in Ireland just a day or so after the election, and it was magnificent to see the signs posted and to geta sense of the overall feeling f the people, who pride themselves on their ability to plow through the political red tape to the heart of the issues. I agree, the Lisbon Treaty was not good for Ireland, but I fear that their vote might get usurped, as I read in many papers that the other political figures form other countries, who support the treaty will not rewrite nor change anything about it and will try to work it so Ireland's voice is ignored. I pra this doesn't happen. I think what is especially interesting is the fact that Ireland was the smallest country to vote no.

[Daithi]

RTE done a post Lisbon skit on this.

[Felicia]

That was funny!

[Alexandre Boulet]

Wow so provocative... i like that !

[JoanMarie]

I've only seen a little bit about the treaty. Is there a website or could someone explain what the treaty is and was for? Please. :)

[Felicia]

http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/full_text/index_en.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6901353.stm

http://www.lisbontreaty2008.ie/

Hope these help understand it a little better.

[Alexandre Boulet]

Wow that would a huge gouvernement....
Here in Canada, for my point of view, the country is too big to be gouverned alone. We have 4 party and they are all in minority.... so they have to work together... but the fact is that instead of working they fight all day on simple question... and don't get anything done !!!

i really slow...and they all argue on the same issue and they all oposse the gouvernement in power but, even if they all agree on a issue, they have different opinion on it. They are no concensus. So i guess the bigger the governement is the slower it gonna act for the people... How are they gonna solve small crisis like pauvrety in a small rural city of one of the country ? I guess it would take so much time and do they gonna really care about that ? i guess that they just want to simplify mondial economy and simplify there economic exchange with China....

that big is no good...

[JoanMarie]

I saw this online in the Irish Times.

MARK HENNESSY, LARA MARLOWE Political Correspondent and in ParisFRENCH PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy’s declaration that Ireland will have to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty has caused quiet fury within the Government, just days before he visits Ireland.

During a meeting with deputies from his UMP party at his office in Paris yesterday, Mr Sarkozy, according to quotes from a number of those in attendance, said: “The Irish will have to vote again.” The UMP deputies repeated the remarks to journalists waiting outside.

On Monday, the French president will travel to Dublin for a five-hour visit and hold meetings with Taoiseach Brian Cowen. He will also meet some of those from the referendum campaign’s Yes and No camps.

The president’s advisers did not deny that Mr Sarkozy said Ireland would have to vote again, but six days before the president’s July 21st visit to Dublin they attempted to limit the damage.

“It was a closed meeting,” a source at the Élysée said. “Therefore, we have no comment about what was said. But it is not at all the president’s state of mind to say what was said coming out of this meeting. The president’s state of mind is: he accepted, at the invitation of Monsieur Cowen, to go to Ireland to listen and understand the reasons that led the Irish to vote No. He is absolutely not taking a ready-made solution in a suitcase to impose it on the Irish.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin told RTÉ the Government received “subsequent clarification” that Mr Sarkozy “is coming to listen and not to impose a solution”. Mr Sarkozy was “entitled to his point of view”, Mr Martin said, but he stressed “no option has been decided upon . . . the bottom line is it’s up to Ireland to decide”.

The idea that the EU might agree to allow all members to keep a permanent commissioner to satisfy Ireland is gaining currency.

A headline in Le Monde newspaper yesterday announced: “The efficiency of the commission could be sacrificed to the Irish.”

An adviser to Mr Sarkozy said: “Apparently the fear of losing a commissioner was a factor in the Irish No.”

“It is difficult to say in what proportion. Personally, I think it would be catastrophic for the commission to remain as big as it is today. Will that be the price to pay for a new, positive vote by the Irish? I don’t know . . . is that what will make the Irish vote Yes? Frankly, I have no idea.”

A key question is what text Mr Sarkozy wants the Irish to vote on – the treaty as it is, or with appended declarations to calm Irish fears.

“We don’t yet have the information we need from the Irish authorities, who at the same time want to take their time, see how serious things are and know they have to hurry a little,” said the adviser at the Élysée. “Should people be asked to re-vote on the same text, or should there be certain statements about things like neutrality, the commission, abortion . . . It’s too soon to say.”

In Washington, meanwhile, Declan Ganley, the leader of Libertas, one of the leading organisations in the No campaign, said it would be ridiculous and anti-democtatic to have a second Lisbon Treaty referendum but if one was called, he predicted an even larger No vote rejection.

He said that Libertas was raising funds across Europe and was considering turning next year’s European Parliament elections into a pan EU proxy vote on the Treaty.

Polling company to ‘clarify’ treaty result; Libertas may run EU election candidates: page 7

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times

[Felicia]

Good article. Thanks for sharing. Truth is that how dare the French or anyone bully Ireland into revoting without paying respect for their decidsion in voting no in the first place. What bothers me most is the total disregard for the islands overwheleming vote and their reasons for it--it is as if the other countries think they can usurp the democratic process or something.

[Alexandre Boulet]

Here in Quebec we had a political party (parti Québecois) who use to do referendum about souverainty of Quebec. They have been 2 referendum failed. Referendum cost lot of money... We had a major crisis over that souverainty thing, the first time, the FLQ wwas taking hostage and was placing bomb to liberate Quebec from Canada. The second time was more political, but the government abuse of his power and was corrupted by this.

I don't believe that putting two referendum in a row will help anything... people might get angry and just vote no because they sense that they are presses to say yes and they don't know why. They must be reason that is gonna beneficiate the people who want to vote yes and the president to put ask for a referendum so soon after the first one... i say that he is up to no good. I would not even let Mr Sarkozy take a walk with my dog !!! he his really not a good president... kind of a moron... and he his violent and vulgar... running around with a top model as a wife... this so called president only want power i say... There a lot of political controversy with this president.. i think the French should have voted for Segolene Royal istead of that so called president...

[Daniel Rodriguez Nugent]

That good comment
it is true.. a sample of true democracy gives it Ireland.. the Irish town
now those that it subtracts to the world are to respect that desicion
Irish greetings you have given a lesson to the world
we hope their politicians respect the vote
People's voice is the voice of God.
Greetings