EU referendum in Ireland: "We've got as much as we can, let's get out now"

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:36:51 +0200

If the Irish people vote "No" to the Lisbon Treaty today, the document will be binned. A traditionally pro-Europe nation, last week the polls showed a change in opinion, with "No" coming out as the likely winner. Irish voters from both sides tell us why the treaty is "scary".

The Lisbon Treaty, signed last December, is an amendment to the proposed European Union constitution that was quashed by "No" votes in French and Dutch referendums in 2005. While most of the EU's 27 states chose to let their MPs make the decision this time round, Ireland's constitution forbids this, and the republic goes to the polls tomorrow. Pro-EU observers wait nervously for the results, after a poll published by The Irish Times on Friday (6 June) saw 5% more voters saying "no" (35%) rather than "yes" (30%). If the Irish say no, the treaty will have to be forgotten.