French President cancels meeting with no campaigners

[Stíofán]

It's been over a month now. Of 'reflection'. Can we readily identify reasons why the Irish people voted No? Reasons that could be addressed by the current EU President, Sarkozy, that can lead to a way out of this post referendum quagmire? No? Nein? Non?

Tell me smart alec, do we analyse the general election results to see why people voted?

I'm neither particularly smart, nor an Alec. There is no need to analyse general election results. People vote, parties win seats, governments are formed. There can be a disconnect between what people vote for, and what people get, because we don't directly elect governments, our TDs do, but that's a story for another day. The Dáil numbers do the talking for us at elections. But there was no sure outcome of a No vote, just a sort of limbo.

If people aren't sure or are misled do we vote again? So why should this apply here?

If people are deliberately misled, by saying there is a mythical Plan B, or play on peoples fears on abortion or force educating 3 year olds (Ganley on TV3) or whatever then maybe another vote is justified.

The two main pillars of the 'no' side, Libertas and Sinn Féin, both ran on the basis of renogitiation, 'a better deal for Ireland' (a non-starter really in the current political climate) so they knew that the outcome would be another referendum vote. The question is what would be the basis of that vote.

I suppose my point is that Sarkozy is coming to hear why we voted No. And I don't think we have a coherent answer why, or a way forward that isn't a referendum re-run. There was a lot of contridictions on the No side, it would be devasting for workers rights (SWP), bad for business (Libertas) etc.

[ON THE ONE ROAD]

renegotiation was a reasonable assumption untill cowan started calling up other eu leaders and telling them to proceed with the plan, now were in limbo. whereas a yes vote would mean yes a no vote because of our governments actions means wait?

what ever about your preference to the lisbon treaty, surly there must be consequences for democracy in this state because of theese actions. Hypotethicly if SF or libertas or any political grouping are ever in government in this state in the future they will have a presendent to stall the consequences of a referendum that dosen't go there way and well that may or may not be important to you.

[lostexpectation]

Why is RTE reporting that he will meet No campaigners?

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0717/eulisbon.html

sounds like the briefest of meetings standing in crowded room, has sinn feiin or anybody previously arranged a sit down meeting at any point?

[fergalr]

"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the People Before Profit Alliance, Patricia McKenna."
"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the Irish Anti War Movement, Patricia McKenna."
"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, Patricia Mckenna."

[lostexpectation]

"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the People Before Profit Alliance, Patricia McKenna."
"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the Irish Anti War Movement, Patricia McKenna."
"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, Patricia Mckenna."

she isn't in the pbpa

[myksav]

This guy has no respect for our democracy. He is not welcome here, as far as I am concerned.

He can come here if he wants, there's no barring order against him. He just needs to stop insulting us.

mccafferty cat, I never said he shouldn't visit here. I do however strongly object to his dictating to us that we have to hold another referendum on Lisbon. That is a foreign official interfering with our Constitutional politics.

[fergalr]

"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the People Before Profit Alliance, Patricia McKenna."
"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the Irish Anti War Movement, Patricia McKenna."
"Monsieur le President, may I introduce the representative of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, Patricia Mckenna."

she isn't in the pbpa

Is she not? A terrible oversight on either her or my part, I'm sure.

[arnaudherve]

It seems to me there is a problem in selecting representatives to meet Sarkozy.

It was not an election of representatives, but a direct vote for a legislative decision. Potentially, all Irish voters for the Yes or the No voted so without paying attention to the campaigns of the official campaigners.

From the strictly legal point of view, people like Marylou Mcdonald and Brian Cowen were just two voters among others.

[Bobert]

I dislike that man immensely. I don't see why this even matters to him as it's an IRISH issue. He's quite willling for Europe to run at a different paces so why should he even care what we do if Europe can proceed without us?

[fergalr]

Ah c'mon! It's substantially more than an Irish issue.