Ireland must vote again by June: Euro MEP's

[He3]

... If the people decide to vote no again I'd be inclined to agree that the case for a third vote would be weak.

What would the case be?

[Magror14]

What would the case be?

I suppose even after a second no vote there would be those that felt that the second no vote would also be the result of ignorance and stupidity and that eventually the Irish will see the light in a third vote. Assuming that the Yes side put up a decent campaign the second time around and the US Conservatives don't get even more involved in our electoral process it is hard to see how one could justify a third vote. If there was I would be voting Yes on the basis of third time lucky.

[junketman]

I don't buy the people were ignorant excuse. Yes some people didn't understand the text of the treaty, but they had an inkling that it wasn't meant to be understood and hence were cynical about the motives of those who drew up the Treaty.

Cycnicism about politicians, our own and European, was probably the main cause of the defeat of the referendum. In Ireland, after all the Tribunal revelations, people no longer trust their politicians to tell them the truth. They also see Europe as a gravey train for politicians, with very little tangible benefits other than roads coming to them.

[ibis]

I don't buy the people were ignorant excuse. Yes some people didn't understand the text of the treaty, but they had an inkling that it wasn't meant to be understood and hence were cynical about the motives of those who drew up the Treaty.

Cycnicism about politicians, our own and European, was probably the main cause of the defeat of the referendum. In Ireland, after all the Tribunal revelations, people no longer trust their politicians to tell them the truth. They also see Europe as a gravey train for politicians, with very little tangible benefits other than roads coming to them.

Yeah, because nobody needs environmental legislation, or equality legislation, or CAP, or tariff-free access to half a billion customers.

[pino]

Those declarations (among many others) show the level of respect that those people (and the EU structure itself) have for the referenda: they accept them only if they win, otherwise..... run again till they can win or burn the rules that tie the EU.

An excellent example of those democratic institutions indeed.

[Clanrickard]

Yeah, because nobody needs environmental legislation, or equality legislation, or CAP, or tariff-free access to half a billion customers.

Yes but we have them already. So why the need for more integration. Usually the europhiles mutter something about gloabl warming ir the like but it will be a coordinated international effort as opposed to piece meal EU integration efforts that help in this repsect. THe CAP is a farce and should be gotten rid of. And I would would much rather see the Doha round of WTO negotiations go ahead even further and faster than any EU integration.

[Pauli]

The EU are copping on to Ireland. The directives become law etc. but like domestically-inspired statues, they are sporadically and randomly enforced. The CAP needs to be reformed and the EU budget seriously looked at from a structural viewpoint.

As for Doha, that is as dead as a doornail. The WTO itself has a very uncertain future.

[turdsl]

FT:
Sinn Fein is the only political party in Ireland that opposed Lisbon. Do you really think that the European political equivalents of Sinn Fein is going to sweep the Euro elections across Europe in 2009?

As the only political party to oppose Lisbon S.F.have shown up the E.U.for what it really is, just look at the German chancellors statements over the last 10 days it was all to suit Germany from day to day even different solutions to suit themselves, not much unity there.

[McDave]

I suppose even after a second no vote there would be those that felt that the second no vote would also be the result of ignorance and stupidity and that eventually the Irish will see the light in a third vote. Assuming that the Yes side put up a decent campaign the second time around and the US Conservatives don't get even more involved in our electoral process it is hard to see how one could justify a third vote. If there was I would be voting Yes on the basis of third time lucky.

A third vote is possible, but it would truly be the nuclear option.

The second vote will be an attempt to sell Lisbon better, while asking voters to consider that a second No might jeopardise our membership of the EU. If despite this there's another No, the 26 ratification countries will be put on the spot about how to bring the EU forward.

If the solution is for the 26, or a subset of them, to create a more integrated EU based on a whole new treaty, Ireland would probably in such a scenario be given the option to join the new set-up on the revised (higher-level-integration) terms. The answer being sought? A simple "EU" Yes or "Exit Stage Left to the EEA" No.

This whole Lisbon conundrum is far, far more complicated than what the "What part of No don't you understand" crew give credit for.

[hiding behind a poster]

Maybe its back to the drawing board for our unelected European leaders and can somebody explain to them what a democratic decision means

Which European leaders are unelected?