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'Serious consequences' if Republic votes no again
Thursday, 11 December 2008
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A second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is set to take place in the Republic next October.
And if the country votes 'no' again, there will be a massive push by other countries to leave them out of the loop.
The first referendum was rejected in June this year.
Already, one German MEP has launched a scathing attack on the Irish demand for new incentives, and said Prime Minister Brian Cowen has acted as if he were at a flea market.
And the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pottering, told the Herald that there will be "very serious consequences" if the treaty is rejected again.
As part of a deal negotiated between Brian Cowen and other European leaders, all 27 member states of the EU will retain a permanent commissioner and a set of legal declarations will be made on topics such as neutrality and abortion.
While Mr Cowen is expected to release limited details of the package today, several MEPs from across Europe have told the Herald that the fresh vote will take place four months after next June's European elections.
Vice President of the European Commission, Margot Wallstrom of Sweden, described October as a "realistic" date for Lisbon Two.
However, some have heavily criticised the fact that the Republic has demanded a permanent position on the commission.
German MEP Alexander Alvaro told the Herald yesterday that he thought the Irish ultimatum was "rubbish".
"Imagine a situation where Poland says 'we won't sign the treaty unless we get the high commissioner for foreign affairs'. We are not at a bazaar here," he said.
The member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe said he blamed the heads of states for not getting the message across last time.
And he hit out at "all this crap" that was put out during the last referendum debate.
"I'm not sure if people in Ireland were aware what 'no' means - 27 minus Ireland," he warned.
British MEP Richard Corbett also criticised the Irish proposal, noting that countries keeping the commissioner for two out of three years "was actually a victory for the smaller countries".
"It's not unreasonable that if 25 or 26 say yes and one says no, to ask the one if it's willing to reconsider," he said.
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Comments
34 Comments
"It's not unreasonable that if 25 or 26 say yes and one says no, to ask the one if it's willing to reconsider," he said.
You never askled the other 25 or 26, just their governments said yes without consulting the public. Nobod wants this except the polititians who will get nice cushy jobs in the EU later on.
Posted by Tadgh | 21.04.09, 12:21 GMT
British MEP Richard Corbett, would be advised to keep his opinions about the democratic aspirations of the Irish people to himself. Such criticisms from British and German politicians had a very negatve effect on French public opinion when we were urged to vote "Yes" to similar proposals in our referendum on 31st May 2005. A week later the Dutch people came to the same conclusion as we did and voted No.
Ireland will not be isolated in europe when it votes No yet again. The "unburied" Lisbon Treaty will finally get the last rites when it is definitively rejected by the people of Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain by an incoming Cameron government. Even trades unionists and socialists will vote Tory to sink Lisbon. As manifesto pledge go, No is the new Yes.
Posted by Paul Henri Cadier | 20.12.08, 20:44 GMT
ALL THE HOPE IN IRELAND!!
The last country in Europe where people have anything to say.
Irish , milions of europeans believe in you, vote NO
Posted by Michael | 15.12.08, 12:51 GMT
Poland, Germany and Czech still didn't ratify the Treaty, so why does he mumble something about "27 minus one"?
Posted by r3pr3z3nt | 14.12.08, 18:08 GMT
i can tell you this: don't let anybody fool you - wote as you please for this is your sacred right as a member of democratic and free country.
Posted by Gandalf | 14.12.08, 18:04 GMT
As the Nazis one used to say, " ze beatings vill continue until ze morale improvz, ja !!?? "
Todays version, "you silly Irish vill continue woting until ve get ze required answer, ist zat clear little Irish !!!??? "
Tarlach, Muckanaghederdauhaulia, Eire
Posted by Tarlach | 13.12.08, 11:30 GMT
Shame on Fianna Fail No means No
Posted by Derry Lad | 12.12.08, 21:12 GMT
Since Ireland is the only coutry to get a vote,how can the people of the other 26 countries say 'yes' or 'no'?The German bully-boys have a long history of threatening their neighbours.It seems they've learnt nothing from 2 world wars.
Posted by Michael | 12.12.08, 20:07 GMT
Ah, to think treasonist Tony Blair signed everyone up without a referendum, as promised, and therefore accomplished for Germany and France what Napolean, Charlemagne and Hitler couldn't.
Posted by Colin | 12.12.08, 17:46 GMT
The simple thing is to drop Ireland from the EU. It's not like it is a right to be involved. If they won't play nice, they can take a time out until they're ready to do so.
Posted by Common sense guy | 12.12.08, 17:36 GMT
I just hope they vote NO. EU is nothing but jobs at inflated pay for the boys.
Posted by David Baird | 12.12.08, 17:14 GMT
This "democracy" being forced on the Irish Republic will be a mirror image of the "democracy" faced by the Unionist/unionist community in any unified Ireland.
Posted by mickey
Good man Mickey never a missed opportunity!! Regardless of the topic you always get your oar in against the Republic. At least you are consistent. Hope all that bitterness doesn't eat you up ..
Posted by Jake M | 12.12.08, 16:05 GMT
Conor I agree with you I voted yes first time around because I read it and it was in our best interests. The majority were too ignorant or lazy to bother and voted no based on laughably inaccurate (as anyone who read it knows) arguments by the no groups. However if it is offered up to me again I will vote no, out of principal, and I won't be bullied otherwise.
One change in it was that we would change our constitution so that we would get no further European referendums in future.
George and Mickey, thanks for the "History Lesson" according to the Sun. Being the "educated" guys you are you will know that my Great Grandfather and others from Ireland who fought in the War of Independence and the Belfast Pogroms fought the Nazi's in the British International Brigade during the Spanish Civil. Maybe if certain "Great" powers had stood up to the Nazi's in 1936 and at least lifted the arms embargo to the democratically elected Spanish Government WWII wouldn't have been necessary.
Posted by Bren | 12.12.08, 16:00 GMT
Lets hope the voters vote NO. Just like they said before. NO thank you Europe - wanna ask again so we can say it louder? NO.
Posted by The Real Liam | 12.12.08, 15:07 GMT
I hope the South'n Irish give the EU the two fingers again.
Maybe one day I, as a "Norn Irish" will be allowed by "Herr" Brown to vote on whether the Welsh, Scots, Norn Irish and English wish to remain in a Federal State of Europe. Incidently, I don't have a problem with the European ordinary people, just the greasy power hungry politicians. We can trade fairly without dictation to other smaller nations. Long live the Irish from whatever tradition!
Posted by Gareth | 12.12.08, 14:28 GMT
So the Germans are back to their Weltpolitik again. It seems that they will never learn.
What next if Ireland votes no again? Send in the Luftwaffe and launch a blitzkreig.
Have the IRA collaborating with them again, as they did in during WWII?
Vote No, No, No. I'd rather eat grass than be bullied
Posted by George | 12.12.08, 12:25 GMT
There shouldn't be another referendum ... ok people then there should be no more call for Northern Ireland to become part of the republic - settled :)
Posted by Philip McNeill | 12.12.08, 11:52 GMT
"Didn't we fight 2 world wars in an attempt to irradicate this sort of tyrannical bullying by Germany"
Well, some of us from the island of Ireland did....and some did not....and others even did what they could to aid the German Army.
Call it karma.
Posted by mickey | 12.12.08, 10:38 GMT
Yeah, put the fear of hell into them with a, your-pork-and-beef-is-cancer-causing scare, that will teach them who is boss when it comes to voting yes or no to the new communist super state.
Jock
Posted by jock | 12.12.08, 10:23 GMT
I think there are grounds to sue the EU here. Ireland entered into europe under the agreement that the EU would make no significant changes to the Irish way of life without the Irish population having something to say about it. As soon as that happens ie. 'above story', they are rubished and threatened by every large nation who's plans have been spoilt by a smaller country and its democratic right. I don't think its fare and to be honest I don't particularily trust the countries doing the rubishing, If you take the last century France have a tendancy to run away from problems and hide, the Germans, well, they just try to take over the show!
Posted by Neil | 12.12.08, 10:21 GMT
34 Comments