Have Your Say
You tell politicians why you voted the way you did on the Lisbon Treaty
Ireland should be run by Irish people not by some body in some other country
Chris Brady, Loughlinstown-Ballybrack, Co Dublin
Appalling mismanagement of campaign by Government and their advisers. Martin looked like someone who was being swept along throughout. Very disappointing for business and Ireland.
MK, Longford
I am happy to hear that Ireland will remain free. We at SaveEurope.net worked hard here in America to inform Irish Americans about this.
Jim, USA
It's all very well for this country's politicians to stand up and call for a Yes vote. Especially as they have absolutely no intention of taking any responsibility if the whole thing goes pear shaped. Now if the Minister who was responsible for informing voters about this treaty was to resign due to incompetence, I might, just might, take them seriously.
Finn, Wexford
Great day for the ordinary decent people of Ireland. We're sick of Cowen and others shoving the Yes vote down our throats like we're idiots. If they might have explained exactly what's in or not in the treaty, and also the possible implications, they would have been better served. A second vote it totally unacceptable. Well done lads!!
Proud Irishman, Cork
Ireland is not the only country to have received money from the EU. Does receipt of funds mean now that Europe has purchased our country? We are not that cheap! The people have spoken. Well done!
Brigid Byrne, Dublin North Central
The Government are reaping what they sew. This is the Irish people finally standing up and saying that they won't be bullied or manipulated by the Fat Cats in Government anymore. The No campaign gave valid reasons to reject the treaty. The Yes campaign was built on a 'Vote Yes because we want you to vote yes' premise.
Jamie, Wicklow
A great victory against neo-liberalism. I believe we have taken the same decision that voters in France, the Netherlands, Denmark, the UK and others, would had they been given a voice on this matter. The fact that they weren't given a voice means that we will be saddled with the sole role of EU scapegoat and general all-round punching-bag.
Charlie, Dublin
Hardly democratic to have a gun put to your head and be told: 'This is to improve democracy, but you must vote yes or suffer!' Hardly very democratic! Why should any member of a Union be denied a commissioner?
Shane O'Doherty, Dublin
Democracy with inequality; a Corporate status for the EU but no explanation why; Veto's brokered by the very representatives who wouldn't even fight to have the Irish language recognised as an official language of the EU until forced to do so by campaign; debates focussed on belittling the opposition instead of admonishing & explaining the advantages/disadvantages of the treaty. There should be no treaty without equal & continuous representation & democratic election processes for Council member
Dave, Laois
Got the impression they could pass and ask anything of the Irish. Now try some other country please!
Liam, Turin
I voted yes, but I don't really know why
Eric Peelo, Loughlinstown-Ballybrack, Co Dublin
It is the government's fault that the treaty was rejected. No campaign had a much better campaign overall.
John Murphy, Cork
Voted No. Not enough information. While I am pro Europe, I want to know exactly what I am voting for. The yes and no sides did very little to actually inform people and just had a tit-for-tat battle. Their behaviour caused this rejection.
Aisling, Wicklow
I hope Ireland will now do the decent thing, withdraw from Europe and let the rest of Europe progress.
John Gleeson, London
Europe is too overbearing and has too much influence on our lives. Europe has wrecked our fishing industry.
James O'Flaherty, Kilmore Quay
Thank you, you represent all EU citizens
John, Belgium
I voted No because it might make politicians sit-up and take notice of the people. They have lost touch with us and this says it all. We won't be ignored and treated like dopes.
Aine, Dublin
Thanks to Irish people!
Mrs Vandervelden, The Hague
Not enough info or simple info.
Elaine, Dublin
It's looking like the No vote has it - and having votes for two turkeys in the past 12 months (Bertie & Dustin), neither of whom have gone the distance, it's refreshing to see that the electorate has woken up and made the right decision. Lisbon needs to have the ambiguity removed from the document before it's brought back to the Irish people again - the current document simply was not good enough. I'll want to be able to see the answers to my questions in the Treaty document before I vote yes.
Dan, Cork
People voted No, not because the no campaign was successful, but because the government failed in their job to communicate what the Lisbon treaty actually does for Ireland, this allowed the no campaign to prey on people's fears, especially in the current economic climate.
Amy, Dublin
I voted No. The politicians told us Yes was best but did not elaborate on the Treaty content. How do you trust a politician after all that has/and is, going on. Yes, we have had the EU cash in the past, but now it's no more. We have to look to the future and not the past and things do not look good for the EU and all its bureaucracy.
John, Edenderry
At least in Ireland you have had a chance to vote from day one about Europe and other issues. We never get this chance in the UK. We are behind the times. However like in the UK how many people understand the Lisbon Treaty? Not many. What ever your views, you can be proud in Ireland that the people have had their say.
Peter Galton, Southampton, England
The Treaty may not have expressly mentioned concerns people may have had, but this omission means that more than likely things could get passed by the back door, with no redress to national parliaments. Relying on your government (or worse still, another country's) to make the right decisions in all cases is naive, when there is so much corruption and political bribery in the EU.
Vicky, Wicklow
'Middle class constituencies'? 'Working class cities'? You'd want to watch your reporting language - why not just come straight out with it and say 'educated' v 'yobs'? Not impressed!
Anon
Use a No vote to force other EU countries to have a referendum, particularly the UK.
Anon, Cork
I would like to congratulate the Irish voters and also thank the Irish politicians for having the decency to offer a vote. Although this result may not be what the political elite wants, it is an indication of the feelings of people in the EU. Perhaps in future, the EU will offer votes to more people.
Kev, Cheshire, UK
A great result for democracy and a rebellion against the politicians attempt to con the people.
Conchubhair, Cill Mhantain
I have studied EU law and think that any veto that the Irish Government would have regarding tax harmonisation would not be exercised and the government would roll in behind the bigger member states and allow tax harmonisation which would cost the country jobs in all sectors, including professional jobs.
JD, Dublin South
I voted yes but was embarrassed on occasion by the yes campaign. Regrettably on occasion it descended into an exercise in "name calling" rather than concentrating on advancing the merits of a yes vote. The case for a yes vote was also oversold and more modest claims would have been more believable.
Joe Wallace, Tipperary
When I heard on Radio 1 some woman in Galway voted no, because she thought her sons would be drafted into the military, I knew it was curtains for the yes campaign. Too little, too late, from our Government.
Paddy, Laois
I do not like being bulled by any politician from any party. It was their arrogance that they did not explain the issues to the Irish citizens until they knew they were in trouble getting the message across to them. They fell on their own sword and they would want to note that the people of the Republic are no fools either.
Tom Morrissey, South Dublin
Cowen must resign.
Justin Casey, Cork?
How can you vote Yes to something those telling us to vote Yes to had not read? How can you pick Yes or No to something so complex - if you agree with most of it but vehemently disagree with one section do you pick Yes or No? The Government (FF/PD/FG) brought this to us so it was their role to inform us why it deserved a Yes and the Government utterly failed that task. The blame for a No lies squared with FF/PD & G and not, emphatically not, with FG or L. But watch how FF spin it.
Desmond FitzGerald, Dublin
I voted No because I'm sick & tired of being told what to do by the EU, whether its charging schools for water or not letting our fishermen fish our waters. I also thought it a joke the other member countries didn't have a vote on it, the reason why because they knew they would vote Na as well. It's a good day for Ireland, can't wait to see the face on Cowen!
Paul, Galway
On behalf of all the European citizens who were denied their electoral rights, a big thank you to the Irish voters! Let's just hope there will not be another masquerade of a vote in a year's time in which Ireland will become the laughing stock of Europe again. This would be 'democracy... the Mugabe way'.
Jere, Binn Adair, Baile Atha Cliath
We've done very well out of Europe, and by voting No we would be sending out a bad message to the rest of the EU
Voter at Cork City Hall
