Thread: Irish Voters Confirm EU Treaty on Second Vote

Final Results: Ireland Voters Back EU Treaty
By VOA News
03 October 2009

Irish workers count ballot papers for second referendum on European Union's Lisbon Treaty in Dublin, 03 Oct 2009

Irish voters have approved the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, in a repeat referendum on the issue.

Election officials announced Saturday that more than 67 percent of voters supported the treaty in Friday's vote.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen welcomed what he called a "resounding yes" to the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining the decision making in the 27-nation bloc. Cowen called the vote a good day for Ireland and for Europe.

EU leaders also welcomed the results.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he sees the "yes" vote as a sign of confidence in the European Union and the role it has played in responding to the economic crisis.

Irish voters rejected the treaty in a first referendum last year, because of fears Ireland could lose sovereignty on issues such as abortion and military neutrality.

Friday's second vote was held after EU leaders reaffirmed Ireland's control over those issues.

The treaty is a modified version of a proposed EU constitution that failed when French and Dutch voters rejected it in 2005.

All 27 EU members must ratify the treaty before it can take effect. Ireland is the only EU member constitutionally required to subject the agreement to a national popular vote.

In addition to Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic have not yet completed the ratification process.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-03-voa9.cfm

Background: Ireland Votes Again....this time with ill feeling
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-172861-lisbon.html+treaty

Describes how world-wide economic crisis has caged the "Celtic Tiger" and the previous independence of Irish voters on this issue. It is frightening that--not getting the "democratic results" they wanted the first time--EU "managers" were able to force a sovereign nation to hold a second election at their own expense to obtain the desired results!

Sounds so "Soviet Union"....

This is really bad news.

Very sad. I'm disappointed Irish voters approved this. Though I'm sure they were pressured and manipulated beyond belief. Just what Americans have to continue to resist when it comes to the North American Union. Of course, here the powers that be just pass de facto policy legislation in the Administration, if the people are against it.

Irish voters rejected the treaty in a first referendum last year, because of fears Ireland could lose sovereignty on issues such as abortion and military neutrality.

This is terrible. Ireland will lose its sovereighty now.

The best book I have read is Jerome Corsi's The Late, Great USA. The EU started very simply with a trade agreement in the 1950s and look what has happened.
The Irish were correct to worry about loss of sovreignty, because they will now be ruled by the EU honchos and cases will be setlled in the International Court, a favorite of Sotomayor. Sounds like we are also slowly drifting that way, bit by bit.

God help Ireland!