WHAT THE EU TREATY OF LISBON DOES(legally accurate).

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This thread has been a great resource. Thanks for putting the work in.

I'm glad this been useful to people 

Call on Irish Voters to Ensure a Resounding NO Vote
http://www.lisbonvote.com/
9/6/2008

PRESS RELEASE

Cóir calls on the people of Ireland to defend our sovereignty, our Constitution and our right to self determination by working as hard as possible in the remaining days and hours of this campaign. We believe that, through hard work, canvassing, leafleting and persuading confused voters to head to the polls, we can defeat this Treaty together.

But the victory is not yet won and we can't emphasize enough that working until the polls close will be crucial to safe-guarding our national sovereignty and the economic future for the coming generations of Irish men and women.

If the Lisbon Treaty is defeated, we, as a nation, will be able to control our taxation policies, which will ensure our competitive economic edge in the EU. By voting down this Treaty, we will ensure that all Irish workers will be able to earn a fair and adequate wage. By voting No, we will preserve Ireland's tradition of being a neutral nation and will prevent the militarisation of the EU. Irish people, importantly, themselves, will continue to decide on important social and family issues, rather than have them imposed on us by unelected  bureaucrats in Brussels, and by an unrepresentative court, sitting a thousand kilometres away.

It is important that the people of Ireland are not cowed by the scaremongering of the main parties who are promoting this undemocratic Treaty, and instead, follow the French and Dutch, who already voted this measure down in 2005. We call on the Irish people to be courageous and to protect Ireland, for themselves and for future generations and to honour the great sacrifices of our patriot dead who were responsible for giving us one of the most democratic constitutions of the modern world.

Cóir do not accept the claim from our politicians that Lisbon cannot be renegotiated to reflect the wishes of the Irish people to bring into existence a more democratic and accountable EU. Among other things, we demand an opt-out, like Britain and Poland, on the Charter of Fundamental Rights; we want to retain our full-time Commissioner in Europe; and, we want a protocol protecting our taxation policies. By voting No, the people of Ireland will be cheered by all of Europe.

Over a thousand years ago, the Irish people saved the culture and civilisation of Europe. And now, by voting No, we can ensure that 490 million Europeans, who are being denied the right to vote, can live in a more democratic, peaceful, prosperous and civilised Europe.

Cóir will meet with the press tomorrow at 1.30pm at Buswell's Hotel in our last press conference of this campaign.

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The Irish people will not be bullied
http://www.libertas.org/content/view/304/1/
10 June 2008

The Irish people will not be bullied into voting yes on Thursday, Libertas Chairman Declan Ganley said this afternoon.

Mr. Ganley was making his final public comments of the campaign ahead of Thursdays vote, as he launched a billboard truck attacking French president Nicolas Sarkozy for his failure to hold a referendum and the comments of his foreign minister, who threatened the Irish people with "victimisation" if they voted "No".

Mr. Ganley said that the last few days had seen an "Unprecedented" campaign to scare the Irish public.
"The people are being bullied in the most callous and cynical of manners. We are being lied to repeatedly about the consequences of a "No" vote by politicians who are frankly too lazy to go and get us a better deal.

It is high time the Irish people sent the elites both in Dublin and Brussels a very clear message about the kind of Europe we want to see.

The French Government have made their intentions very clear. They want to see us ratify Lisbon, and then next month, they will bring forward plans to harmonise taxes, increase our military spending, and interfere in our immigration policy.

They have systematically hidden those plans fro m the Irish people, with the full connivance of our own Government. President Sarkozy is doing this while refusing his own people a vote on the grounds that they would vote "No".

We need to send a message to all of Europe that this is not acceptable.

A "No" vote on Thursday is a vote for hope, and a vote for a better future. It is a vote for our right to demand accountability and honesty from our leaders. It is a vote for democracy.

I am appealing to all Irish men and women to get out on Thursday, and make it very clear that Ireland needs a better deal than what is on offer in Lisbon. It is time to assert our voice as a nation".

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Dole queue surges past 200,000 mark and worse is yet to come
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/lisbon-treaty/dole-queue-surges-past-200000-mark-and-worse-is-yet-to-come-1404995.html
June 11 2008

UNEMPLOYMENT has reached heights not seen in almost 10 years with the number of people signing on smashing the 200,000 mark.

It is the highest figure since 1999 and economists warned things are set to get worse with the figure rising to 230,000 in the next six months.

Fine Gael said it could get as bad as in the 1980s.

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the seasonally adjusted numbers on the Live Register increased from 199,700 in April to 207,300 in May. In the year to May, there was a jump of 47,746 (31pc) in the numbers signing on. The slowdown in the construction sector is also starkly evident with more than three times (36,847) as many men joining the register as women (10,899).

However, a near-even number of men and women lost their jobs last month, indicating that the construction slowdown is being felt across the economy.

Jim Power, economist with Friends First, said the Government will have to take long term action to reverse the trend. He also warned that it will spread to areas such as the retail and services sectors as the ripple effect spreads. "Things are going to get significantly worse over the next 12 months," he said.

"And the numbers could easily reach 225,000 or 230,000 by the end of the year."

Spending

He said in the short term there is little can be done -- but the Government now needs to reign in spending in some areas and boost it in others.

"The delivery of the National Development Plan is essential but they will need to keep wage demands as low as possible. Spending will have to be controlled and monitored in a way that has not been seen in the past decade."

Fine Gael said the situation was reaching crisis point and warned that the dark days of the 1980s were returning. "The Government claims rising unemployment is an international phenomenon, but job losses are actually falling across most of Europe," said TD Leo Varadkar.

"The Republic used to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, but now has a bigger unemployment problem than 11 other EU countries, including the UK. These figures should be setting off alarm bells in the Government."

He called for an overhaul of FAS, the State training agency, which spends over €1bn a year but which he claims produces "limited results". He also called for a renewed focus on restoring competitiveness by reducing the cost of doing business and of taking on new employees.

Labour Party spokesman on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Willie Penrose said now is the time for the Government to step up the school building programme and bring back some construction work.

Disparity

The figures show regional disparity with the largest percentage increase in the south-east where there was an increase of 4.3pc in the month compared to an increase of 1.1pc in the south-west. The largest county increases were in Carlow (7.9pc) and Tipperary North (7pc). The figures dropped in Kerry by 2.4pc and by 0.5pc in Louth. In the year, there was a 22pc jump in Dublin and in the midlands the increase was 40pc.

Live Register figures include part-time workers, seasonal and casual workers, while the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) lists those out of work who have taken specific steps to find a job.

Lynsey Clemenger, economist with Ulster Bank, said the Live Register is an important forward indicator and warned the next QNHS figures will show an increase in the number of unemployed. "Taking the first five months of 2008 together, the numbers signing-on have increased by 35,700," she said.

"The increase over the same period on 2007 was a mere 3,000, illustrating the extent of the deterioration in the labour market thus far in 2008."

She said it is likely that the female-dominated services sector will suffer more job losses.

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Voters prepare to cast Lisbon Treaty ballots
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0611/breaking33.htm
11/06/2008

More than three million Irish citizens will cast their ballots in the Lisbon Treaty referendum tomorrow, deciding the future structure of European Union institutions.

Both sides in the debate wound down their campaigns today amid a broadcasting moratorium, but the main party leaders issued final statements this afternoon.

Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm and voters will need to produce evidence of identity in order to vote.

A passport, driving licence, employee identity card containing a photograph, a student identity card along with a cheque book, cheque card, birth certificate or marriage certificate will be accepted.

The votes from 43 constituencies will be counted on Friday. After the completion of each count, the local returning officer will inform the referendum returning officer, who will be based at Dublin Castle, of the result from their constituencies.

Voters will be presented with a ballot paper asking them whether or not they approve the 28th Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2008, to allow Ireland to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon.

The full text of the constitutional amendment, as outlined in the Bill, will not be on the ballot paper but will be available for inspection at polling stations.

Full coverage of the referendum results will be available on The Irish Times website (http://www.ireland.com/focus/thelisbontreaty) on Friday, with reports and analysis along with audio commentary from the count centre at Dublin Castle. Results from the count centres will be updated live throughout the day.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said tomorrow’s vote on the 28th amendment to the 1937 Constitution is "an important date in Irish history".

"It will decide whether or not our country stays true to its positive approach to the European Union or takes a new and uncertain route," he said.

Mr Cowen insisted the treaty was "balanced and fair".

"Particularly because of the importance of this vote I am calling on all citizens to make the time to vote tomorrow between 7 am and 10 pm," the Taoiseach said.

Fine Gael's campaign director Gay Mitchell said the referendum vote "is an opportunity for Ireland to cement its place at the heart of Europe".

“I am optimistic that the referendum will be ratified by the Irish people tomorrow and that Ireland will move confidently forward at the heart of the new Europe that is emerging with new opportunities for all of us," he said.

Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said votoers will have a "a hugely important decision to make tomorrow which has the potential to have a significant impact on the future direction of this country and of the European Union".

"It is a unique power because only the Irish constitution requires the Lisbon Reform Treaty to be put to a vote of the people. With that unique power also comes a particular responsibility: a responsibility to exercise the vote. I hope that Irish voters will turn out in large numbers to ensure that we get a result that accurately reflects the views of the electorate," he said.

Campaigners had ramped up their campaigns yesterday ahead of the moratorium, which came into effect at midnight. No political activity will be allowed around polling stations tomorrow.

The moratorium is aimed at ensuring that fairness and balance are achieved by broadcasters during the referendum. It is also intended to allow voters a period of reflection in the final stages of the treaty debate. .

Around 1,200 registered voters on the Aran Island will cast their ballots on the Lisbon Treaty today.

Voters on five islands off the Donegal coast have already cast their votes, and the Cork islands will vote with the rest of the nation tomorrow.

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Vote for a better deal - Vote No 
http://www.libertas.org/content/view/305/1/
11 June 2008

Libertas Chairman Declan Ganley has appealed to Irish people to turn out to vote and reject the Lisbon Treaty tomorrow, saying that a "No" vote would "send our leaders back to the drawing board".

Speaking from the Libertas Campaign Bus, en route to Galway where he will cast his ballot tomorrow morning, Mr. Ganley said:

"This has been a long and a hard campaign, and tomorrow Irish people have to make a choice. Do they really believe that this is the best deal that this country can achieve? Or do they believe the reports coming from Brussels that say we can get something better?

We need to keep our Commissioner. That was Government policy for 20 years, and it's just as sensible now as it was before they abandoned it so casually.

The Government and their yes-men would have us believe that there is a boundary to what we can achieve. We on the other hand are optimistic that all of Europe can do better. No good reasons for a "Yes" vote have been given in this campaign. I hope, and I firmly believe, that the Irish people will vote "No" tomorrow, and that the work can immediately begin on constructing a better vision of Europe for all its 490 million citizens".

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Main party leaders unite to denounce anti-treaty 'dishonesty'
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0611/1213133125530.html
11 June 2008

THE TAOISEACH and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny rounded on the No campaigners in the Lisbon Treaty referendum yesterday, accusing them of dishonesty as the referendum campaign entered its final stages. Those opposed to the treaty insisted that a better deal could be obtained if it was rejected. STEPHEN COLLINS , Political Editor reports

At his final press conference, Mr Cowen pointed out that the parties for which about 90 per cent of the people had voted in the last election believed that it was in the national interest to vote Yes.

He conceded it had been difficult to get people to focus on the real issues but blamed this on the No campaign, and rejected the notion that it would be possible to renegotiate a better deal if there was a No vote.

"Extraneous issues are used opportunistically by our opponents in an effort to garner support for their weaker case, to create confusion about the treaty provisions themselves, to raise fears, worries and concerns needlessly in an effort to win support. Theirs has been, frankly, a dishonest campaign," he said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Enda Kenny as he urged people to focus on the facts.

"I ask you to ignore the false claims that have been repeated over and over again in an attempt to confuse and mislead people. It is very regrettable that totally untrue arguments about taxation, abortion, neutrality and even euthanasia have been put before the Irish people."

Mr Kenny said voters should evaluate the credibility of the various No groups. "I urge people to think about future generations when you go to vote on Thursday," he said.  (What about credibility of the Yes camp)

Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said if the Irish people voted No the country would enter a period of doubt and uncertainty at a time of economic difficulties.

"Those who suggest that we should vote No to allow the Government to go back and negotiate a 'better deal' are either extraordinarily naive or are deliberately misleading the public," said Mr Gilmore.

He said the treaty was the end result of a long period of discussion and negotiation between the 27 member states, much of it conducted under an Irish EU presidency.

"There is no certainty that the other 26 member states would be willing to reopen negotiations and even if they did, there is no certainty that we would get a better deal."

However, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said a better deal was possible. Speaking in Dublin's O'Connell Street, he said Sinn Féin's experience during the peace process showed it was possible to continue negotiations.

He added that Government Ministers were not "wilting violets" and would be able to go back to Brussels to renegotiate if voters turned down the treaty.

Libertas chairman Declan Ganley also maintained a better deal was possible if the treaty was rejected. "We can't get a worse deal than the one we're being offered right now," he said.

Independent Dublin TD Tony Gregory described the treaty as a step too far that would hand over too much power to an unelected bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, Green Party leader John Gormley complained he was not allowed take part in Monday's press conference of major party leaders because Fine Gael and Labour objected. "I wasn't allowed to go to the press conference yesterday because apparently Fine Gael and Labour didn't want me to be there," he said.

However, Fine Gael said the arrangements to hold a joint leaders' press conference had taken some 10 days to finalise and that Mr Gormley's attendance had first been mooted on Sunday evening, less than 24 hours before the event.

Mr Gormley said: "I think there's no room at all in a campaign like this for pettiness and for politicking."

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Oh just to mention John Gormley is for the Yes camp,he criticised Fine Gael & Labour for both parties members not fully supporting a Yes vote,fills you with such confidence 

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World’s media converge on count centre
Irish Examiner
11 June 2008

MORE than 340 journalists from around the world will be reporting from Ireland tomorrow on the Lisbon treaty, including several media groups from as far away as Japan and the US.

As polling stations around the country were making last-minute preparations ahead of the crucial vote, the Department of Environment revealed television crews, newspaper journalists and satellite vans were coming from all over Europe to report on the referendum.

Over 40 media groups have received accreditation to cover the count this week.

Voting will commence from 7am and run until 10pm tomorrow.

Returning officers will then officially commence counting at 9am on Friday.

It is expected that an official result will be announced sometime between 3pm and 5pm by the national returning officer Maurice Coughlan that day, but more than likely towards the latter part of the afternoon.

Media groups are travelling from across Europe, including Arte French television, ARD German radio and TV, Austria broadcasters ORF and Czech newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza.

Reporters will also be present from the German newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung, Lithuanian national radio, Danish newspaper Morgenavisen, the Dutch Broadcasting Foundation NOS, as well as Polskie radio, from Poland.

Several other groups including Spain’s TV Antena, Germany’s ZDF and a radio group from Latvia will also be present for the count.

The Department of Environment say nearly 10 Japanese media groups, including the newspapers Asahi, Sankei and Japan’s leading financial newspaper Nikkei, as well as the group Kyoto newsprint and a number of Japanese television groups will also be covering the referendum.

A crew from CNBC, the US media group, will also be monitoring the count.

Irish and British media groups will also be present.

The nerve centre for counting will be in Dublin Castle.

Results will be faxed and sent to the centre from around the country where they will be put up on giant plasma screens. Results will also be made available, as they are released, on the website www.referendum.ie

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Finnish and Estonian parliaments ratify EU treaty
http://euobserver.com/9/26309
11 June 2008

The Finnish and Estonian parliaments have ratified the EU's Lisbon treaty, just a day before Irish citizens are to cast their vote on the document in a referendum being closely watched across Europe.

A large majority of Finnish deputies – 151 out of 200 – on Wednesday (11 June) voted in favour of the document, while 27 opposed it and 21 were absent, according to AFP news agency.
 
A little later on Wednesday afternoon, the Estonian parliament also approved the Lisbon treaty. Its vote was almost unanimous: 91 votes in favour and one against. Nine MPs abstained.

In both countries, the presidents now have to sign off the document for ratification to be finalised.

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed both votes, saying: "The treaty has now been approved by seventeen member states. The two votes today send a strong signal, confirming the desire for the treaty to be ratified in good time to enter into force by 1 January 2009."

Earlier in the day, the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering also said that "coming a day before the Irish Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the approval by a big majority of members of the Finnish parliament is a further important signal that this Reform Treaty is in Europe's vital interest."

In addition, the Greek parliament was expected to vote on the document later in the day.

Ireland is the only country that will put the document to a popular vote on Thursday (12 June) and polls suggest the result will be tight.

The EU will be hoping that Wednesday's ratification give a boost to the "yes" camp in Ireland as it is getting increasingly nervous about the referendum's outcome

By contrast, comments by French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner earlier this week that an Irish "no" vote would be a sign of ungratefulness were dismissed as "counter-productive" in Ireland.

"It would be very, very, very troubling...that we could not count on the Irish, who themselves have counted a lot on Europe's money," Mr Kouchner told French radio RTL.

Mr Kouchner "should have minded his own business. We have proven in Ireland that we can take our own decisions," Irish health minister Mary Harney said, according to French daily Le Figaro on Wednesday (11 June).

The Lisbon treaty was drawn up after the European Constitution was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. It contains most of that document's innovations.

[oshea.declan]

World’s media converge on count centre
Irish Examiner
11 June 2008

MORE than 340 journalists from around the world will be reporting from Ireland tomorrow on the Lisbon treaty, including several media groups from as far away as Japan and the US.

As polling stations around the country were making last-minute preparations ahead of the crucial vote, the Department of Environment revealed television crews, newspaper journalists and satellite vans were coming from all over Europe to report on the referendum.

Over 40 media groups have received accreditation to cover the count this week.

Voting will commence from 7am and run until 10pm tomorrow.

Returning officers will then officially commence counting at 9am on Friday.

It is expected that an official result will be announced sometime between 3pm and 5pm by the national returning officer Maurice Coughlan that day, but more than likely towards the latter part of the afternoon.

Media groups are travelling from across Europe, including Arte French television, ARD German radio and TV, Austria broadcasters ORF and Czech newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza.

Reporters will also be present from the German newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung, Lithuanian national radio, Danish newspaper Morgenavisen, the Dutch Broadcasting Foundation NOS, as well as Polskie radio, from Poland.

Several other groups including Spain’s TV Antena, Germany’s ZDF and a radio group from Latvia will also be present for the count.

The Department of Environment say nearly 10 Japanese media groups, including the newspapers Asahi, Sankei and Japan’s leading financial newspaper Nikkei, as well as the group Kyoto newsprint and a number of Japanese television groups will also be covering the referendum.

A crew from CNBC, the US media group, will also be monitoring the count.

Irish and British media groups will also be present.

The nerve centre for counting will be in Dublin Castle.

Results will be faxed and sent to the centre from around the country where they will be put up on giant plasma screens. Results will also be made available, as they are released, on the website www.referendum.ie

From people I've been talking to in Galway, Dublin,Kilkenny and Co. Clare it seems the majority are highly suspicious of the Treaty and are going to vote No - I'm praying for a No vote - it's the only chance for Ireland to hold onto some semblance of sovereignty.

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Europe awaits with bated breath
Irish Examiner
11 June 2008

IS it a sinister political Da Vinci Code designed to undermine our freedoms or a worthy but dull attempt to modernise the EU?

Short of arranging for Elvis to emerge from a UFO riding Shergar and boasting of his part in the JFK assassination, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, chairman of the convention which drew-up the doomed EU constitution, could hardly have delighted conspiracy theorists more than with his comments that the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters is reborn in Lisbon: “Public opinion will be led to adopt, without knowing it, the proposals that we dare not present to them directly... All the earlier proposals will be in the new text, but will be disguised in some way.”

Not surprisingly, Green leader and Environment Minister John Gormley puts a more positive spin on the document as he urges voters to dwell on what the Lisbon treaty will do for them: “Concentrate on the merits of this treaty, the charter of fundamental rights, the democratisation of the European Union and the commitment to environmental issues,” he said.

NEUTRALITY

GIVEN that the EU had its genesis in the European Coal and Steel Community designed to control armament production and thus help prevent another war between Germany and France, it is ironic Lisbon copper-fastens a new, assertive, military role for the union with the setting up of a European Defence Agency.

The treaty insists: “Member states shall undertake progressively to improve their military capabilities.” Meaning Ireland will be obliged to continually upgrade its defence reach.

However, Ireland will retain the right to opt out of military or security operations it does not agree with.

TAX

THE Lisbon treaty will not affect Ireland’s ability to set its own tax rates as nations will retain a veto in such matters.

While the Irish veto on direct taxation will remain, it is a nuclear option and highly unlikely Dublin would ever use it in the face of opposition from the other 26 member states.

COMMISSIONER

ONE of the few things voters have been able to lock-onto is that Ireland, along with all other member states, will not have a Commissioner in Brussels for five of every 15 years as the body shrinks from 27 to 18 members.

However, the reduction in the size of the commission was agreed under the Nice Treaty. All Lisbon does is set out the mechanics on how the rotation of seats will be arranged.

EU PRESIDENT

LISBON will create a President of the European Council who will serve a five-year term. This is intended to end the rotating six-month presidencies of the member states and give the union more direction and forward thrust. The president will be appointed by the heads of national government and effectively, only be accountable to them through the European Council.

The same applies to the new post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

The lack of democratic accountability of the two posts undermines the claims of treaty architects that it brings the union’s institutions closer to the people.

DEMOCRACY

The European Parliament will get important new powers of co-control of budgetary and legislative matters with the European Council.

National parliaments such as the Oireachtas will be entitled to try and influence EU policy making at an early stage, however, it is unclear what, if any, impact this would have.

The European Council is made up of Ministers representing each state and almost always meets behind closed doors. Lisbon would see decisions made on the basis of 55% of countries which represent 65% of the population of EU carrying the day.

ABORTION

THE treaty has a protocol stating nothing would affect the application in Ireland of article 40.3.3 of the Constitution. This article outlaws terminations in the Republic unless there is a direct threat to the life of the mother.

WORKER’S RIGHT

THE EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is recognised under Article 6 of the Lisbon Treaty and acknowledges activities like the right to strike. However, this charter only applies when a member state is implementing EU law and not its own national law. This seriously downgrades any impact the charter will have if applied and leaves it reading more like a set of worthy aspirations than a guarantee of protection.

JUSTICE

THIS is perhaps the most controversial expansion of power at EU level set out in the treaty, but Ireland and Britain have opted out of it on the grounds they have a separate common law system to the continent.

The treaty extends the remit of the European Court of Justice to scrutinise criminal law and introduce continent-wide powers to target the resources of terrorists.

The EU will now scrutinise prosecuting, policing and investigating certain crimes. There will also be a commitment to standardise laws in different countries and arrive at minimum sanctions for certain offences including money laundering, drug-trafficking, corruption, terrorism or computer crime.

GREEN ISSUES

A vague commitment is made to combating climate change at an international level in Article 174, and the need for energy security is also mentioned.

[mickswann]

What time does polling start?

[dogmadestroyer]

Fingers crossed!

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What time does polling start?

7 AM.

Irish threat to new EU treaty

[dogmadestroyer]

Sub, I expect you to be there at 7am screaming and decked out in stuff saying NO!

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I heard that there will be no campagining allowed outside polling stations tomorrow,which is a pity theres a few points I would like to raise but I will speak to whomever will listen to me and a few more that don't 

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Lisbon- After we win ...
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87946
June 12, 2008

On the streets of dublin

In Dublin city centre particularly in the last few days. people aren't just saying they're voting No they're vehemently No and they're saying we could win this ...A lot of people have stopped by the CAEUC stall at the GPO to chat and debate, farmers, fishermen, taxi drivers, disgruntled fiannna failers etc. etc. really varied. it's amazing to hear people talking about politics like this, not just the treaty but the EU and where it's going. it feels like people are really getting into this.
A lot of people from other EU countries have said win it for us cos we didn't get to vote.there has also been a lot of press from other EU countries suddenly taking an interest because it's too close to call .there has been very little yes activity & no concept from their leafleters of what the treaty is about. it'll be close but either way all this interest is a really good sign. this is touching a nerve and it's completely crossing party lines. it's great to see a bit of democracy getting messy and boundaryless as it should be.

If they lose the yes side will scramble to blame the no vote on random factors and will offer a quick fix. even if other countries get referendums on the back of a No here their governments will most likely try to simplify the many reasons for their NO votes just as ours will here. when we win the next step will be to keep the initiative, organise quickly and help people across the EU to negotiate what they want. possible suggestions for how are online discussions, and regional assemblies and forums. We have to put forward our alternatives to free trade, over-consumption and militarization. at a bare minimum we have to make specific demands. a lot of work has already been done on such demands, including costings, by French Socialists whose provisions were all dropped from the treaty and there's also a report I'll post a link to on the necessity of increasing spending on healthcare and education and research and development.

Just a few suggestions are:
protection of workers' rights, including the right to collective bargaining and the same rate of pay for migrant and local workers, specific concrete enforceable action on climate change, a continued veto on trade in health and education as well as a commitment to subsidised public transport and no further expansion of airports and the provision for peacekeepers combatting terrorism in third states and structured military co-operation has to go. no matter what happens this treaty is not just going to go away and we all need to be the ones dictating terms, not the heads of state.

Sinn Fein has come up with these demands-from their June 6th press release

"In any re-negotiation the government must secure a permanent Irish commissioner. The government also needs to secure the absolute right of Irish citizens to have the final say in any significant changes to EU treaties.

"The government also needs to ensure that key strategic vetoes on issues such as tax, public services and international trade are strengthened. They need to secure measures to prevent workers pay and conditions from being undermined. They need to secure a protocol protecting our neutrality and opt outs from military spending.

"Brian Lenihan this morning raised the issue of nuclear power and queried what the government could do about the fact that millions of Euro of Irish tax payers money is used to fund this industry. The solution is simple. The Irish government should secure an opt-out from EURATOM as advocated by environmentalists.


Related Link: http://www.sayno.ie

[dogmadestroyer]

Sorry if this was already posted. It takes a Soviet to know what the EU really is..

Former Soviet Dissident Warns For EU Dictatorship
http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/865

Its long so I'm not going to copy-paste it.

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Irish start to vote on EU treaty
http://euobserver.com/9/26311
12 June 2008

The polls have opened in Ireland to allow citizens to vote on the EU treaty with Irish prime minister Brian Cowen qualifying the referendum as "an important date in Irish history."

Some three million citizens are eligible to cast their ballot - polling stations are open from 8am to 11pm CET.

They will be asked whether or not they approve an amendment to the constitution to allow Ireland to ratify the Lisbon Treaty.

With turnout seen as crucial to the eventual outcome - a low voter show of around 30 percent is likely to result in a rejection of the treaty, a higher turnout of well over 40 percent is more likely to result in a Yes - the weather is also set to play a role.

The forecast would appear to favour the yes camp with the Irish weather station predicting a dry day with just a "few scattered showers."

Counting will begin on Friday morning, results are expected on Friday afternoon.

Final opinion polls showed the two sides almost neck and neck. An Irish Times poll at the end of last week put the no side in the lead by five percentage points, a Sunday Business Post poll a few days later put the Yes side in the lead, but only just (42% to 39%).

Mainstream political parties in Ireland all back the treaty. Mr Cowen has been appealing to Irish citizens' generally pro-European outlook ahead of the vote suggesting that a rejection would have negative political consequences for the country.

"After 35 years of respecting and helping Ireland, the EU has earned the right not to be seen as a threat to us and I believe that the Irish people will reflect on this when examining the arguments of both sides of this campaign," he said on Wednesday.

The No side, which says the treaty will undermine the country's sovereignty and threaten its stance on neutrality and abortion, has been arguing that a rejection of the treaty will mean a better one will be negotiated.

Ireland is the only country to have a referendum on the treaty and is being closely watched around Europe. In 2001 the country rejected the Nice Treaty before voting in favour of it the following year.

With the no side gaining ground in the last weeks, politicians from larger member states have criticised Irish citizens for appearing to be ungrateful for all the EU aid it has received over the years.

A headline in today's FT Deutschland states: "Europe feeds but still the Irish could bite"

*The article previously said that there would be an exit poll after polling stations close on Thursday evening. This is not the case and we apologise for this error.

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Voting under way in Lisbon referendum
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0612/eulisbon.html
12 June 2008

Polling stations around the country are open for the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny cast his vote at the Parish Centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, shortly after 9am this morning.

AdvertisementThe Taoiseach cast his vote at Mucklagh National School in Tullamore just after 10am.

Declan Ganley, the founder of Libertas which has been leading the 'No' campaign, cast his vote at Briarfield National school near Tuam, Co Galway, at 10.30am.

Polling there has been slow: just 20 of the 580 registered voters had gone to the polls by 10.30am.

What has been described as a systems error with polling cards however meant that some voters in three areas of Co Donegal were directed to the wrong polling booths.

The areas affected are box number 55 in Malin Head where voters should cast their votes in Malin Head National school and not Urbalreagh NS as stated on their cards. In Letterkenny voters with cards for box numbers 812 to 84 should vote at the old chruch in St Conal's hospital rather than the Vocational school and in Donegal South-West Mullanmore NS is the place to vote for people with cards for box number 206 and not Edeninfagh NS.

There was some confusion in Galway city when a number of people turned up to cast their vote at the old polling station venue in Halla Phadraig on Forster Street, not realising that the polling station is now at St Patrick's Band Hall beside Ceannt Station.

Mid-morning estimates

The turnout in Limerick city is between 7% and 10% and in North Tipperary it is running at 4%.

A slow but steady trickle of voters have been casting their votes in the North-West. An estimated 2-3% had voted by 10am in Letterkenny, where the weather is poor.

Voting in Leinster constituencies (outside of Dublin) has also been described by some presiding officers as 'slow to very slow'.

Towns such as Wexford, Kilkenny, Longford and Trim are reporting that voting has been slow.

Voting in some rural polling stations has been 'very slow' so far.

Voter turnout has been estimated at 5.5% in Wexford town, Athlone, Portlaoise and Dundalk, with 6.5% in many rural polling stations.

Turnout in Westmeath is 4%.

Just over 3m Irish citizens are entitled to vote in the referendum.

Polling stations will stay open until 10pm tonight - a total of 15 hours during which people will have an opportunity to cast their ballots.

To be eligible to vote, you have to be on the Register of Electors, and, because it is a proposal to amend the Constitution, you have to be an Irish citizen.

Potential voters may be asked for evidence of identity - acceptable forms of proof include a passport, a driving licence, an employee or student identity card with a photograph, or a bank or credit union book including your address.

The ballot paper itself is very simple - if you are in favour of the proposed changes, mark an X in the box marked Yes; if you are not in favour, put your X in the box marked No.

Counting begins at 9am tomorrow morning.

The overall result should be announced by early evening.

Greek parliament ratifies Treaty

The Greek parliament approved the treaty by 250 votes to 42 late last night.

The ruling New Democracy conservatives and main opposition Pasok socialists both supported the measure.

The opposition KKE Communists, Syriza leftists and the small nationalist party LAOS voted against the treaty, demanding that it be put to a referendum.

Leftwing demonstrations were held against the treaty in Athens and the northern city of Salonika.

The parliaments of Estonia and Finland had both overwhelmingly approved the treaty earlier in the day.

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Brian baffles foreign media pack with late charm assault
Irish Independent
June 12 2008

The rain drizzled down on the waiting media pack outside the Longford shopping centre. Brian Cowen was running half an hour behind schedule and running the risk of becoming known as the Late Taoiseach.

"Maybe he's reading the treaty," piped up an Italian journalist.

The Taoiseach has suddenly become an object of some fascination in the wider European media as realisation has slowly dawned that Ireland is on the brink of biting the hand which has generously fed it throughout the lean pre-boom years.

And so a gaggle of press from Poland, Germany, Italy and France found themselves on the 'Yes' bus, bemusedly taking a magical mystery tour through Cowen Country on the final day of the Lisbon campaign.

When he finally strolled into view, it turned out that the media were getting value for money -- order one taoiseach, get another for free -- as by his side was Albert Reynolds, the doughty war horse conscripted out of retirement in the final scramble for the finish line.

If Brian was aware that the eyes of Europe were now firmly fixed upon his rebellious citizenry, he was showing few signs of stage-fright.

The questions were mainly of the same what-if-it-all-goes-pear-shaped variety. But Brian doesn't do What If. Until the votes are counted he is doggedly looking on the bright side of life. "We're still in the middle of this campaign," he insisted.

However, it was clear that he doesn't relish the prospect of turning up in Brussels for the European Council pow-wow if the Irish electorate give the whole European lark a resounding nul points.

"The problem is that if I go to the European Council with a 'No' vote, obviously the preliminary discussions will have to begin as to what happens. There'll be great disappointment and a great sense of uncertainty as to where we go from here," he explained.

And perhaps employing the philosophy of 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em', Brian decided to dip his toe into the murky world of conspiracy theories so enthusiastically employed by elements of the 'No' campaign.

He raised the subject of UFOs -- Unclearly Financed Organisations. He suggested that anti-Lisbon group Libertas has questions to answer.

"It's been very well resourced -- from what sources we're not sure. I don't think the press have been able to find out where the money's coming from, but certainly they have spent far more money than all the democratic parties on the 'Yes' side," he declared.

But where did he think that Libertas's cornucopia of cash was coming from? "I haven't a clue . . . People are drawing their own conclusions," he hinted enigmatically.

"But the important thing is in any event, we're putting a positive campaign forward," he added, having finished trashing the opposition.

And then he was off, wandering around the shopping centre shaking hands and pressing leaflets into the hands of unwary passers-by, as the press pack pounced on random people.

"How are you voting?" barked one over-assertive reporter from central Europe.

"That's for me to know and you to find out," came the response from the ruffled local.

"Does that mean yes or no?" whispered the bamboozled reporter to a colleague who just shook her head in dismay. These Irish. They are a puzzle.

After Longford came Mullingar and then it was a dash around his home turf in Tullamore. Here the 'Yes' votes were more numerous -- though some locals were still unconvinced. Two women approached by Brian dug their heels in. What had the Europeans ever done for us, they demanded.

If Brian had known his Monty Python he could have replied, "the aqueducts, the roads, education, wine, sanitation . . ." Instead, he was on his best behaviour. "If I ask ye nicely will it make a difference?" he enquired.

"I'm pleading with you," he said with a grin. After extracting the promise of two more 'Yes' votes, he wiped his brow and walked away. "Whatever it takes," he sighed dramatically.

As he walked the streets of Tullamore, various visiting reporters sidled cautiously up to him to elicit exclusive quotes, while half-expecting to be contorted into a half-nelson by his security.

They were astonished instead to get an affable quote and to get away unscathed.

"That just wouldn't happen in Britain," said one journalist with a touch of envy.

"That's the luxury of being a neutral country," added another visitor pointedly.

"The only public place you could bump into Silvio Berlusconi is on the beach wearing a bandana," explained the Italian reporter in wonder.

On his walkabout in Tullamore, Brian Cowen stood on Main Street and considered which route the entourage would take.

"We'll go round and come back," he announced. One of the visitors tried to make head or tail of this. "All is confusion," he muttered dejectedly.

Of course, it made perfect sense to the locals.

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We owe vote to this man
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/lisbon-treaty/we-owe-vote-to-this-man-1406209.html
June 12 2008

THE actions of a Kilkenny man secured the right for three million Irish citizens to vote on behalf of 500 million Europeans in today's Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Ireland is the only country in the EU where citizens are being allowed to vote on the adoption, or not, of the Lisbon Treaty European Constitution.

Raymond Crotty's daughter Mary, and her sister Ann, who has returned from South Africa where she works as a journalist to campaign for a 'No' Vote, explained the pivotal action which their father took and which could now impact on the shape and direction Europe takes in the future.

"The French and Dutch, who were given an opportunity to vote on the European Constitution, voted against it. They are not being given an opportunity to vote on the Lisbon Treaty," she said.

"We are being afforded this right, not because our government has secured it for us, but because our father, Raymond Crotty, took the Irish government to court back in 1986.

"The Supreme Court ruled in that case that in the event of any major change within the EU that impacted upon Ireland's constitution, the government would be obliged to get approval for that change from the Irish people.

"The implications of the current treaty are so wide-ranging that lawyers who worked on our dad's case believe that, if it is implemented, it will be our last EU-related referendum."

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Government pins hopes on high turnout to pass treaty
Irish Examiner
12 June 2008

THE Government is pinning its hopes on a high turnout to pass the Lisbon treaty referendum today.

The Government is cautiously optimistic the yes campaign would win, but cited turnout as the crucial factor.

In his final appeal to voters, Taoiseach Brian Cowen urged all citizens to make the time to vote. Polling booths will be open from 7am to 10pm and all the main parties are expected to launch a “get out the vote” exercise, offering lifts to voters in need of transport and continuing to canvass until the polls close.

“This is a balanced and fair treaty which serves the interests of both Ireland and Europe. At a time of growing economic uncertainty, it is in Ireland’s vital national interest to have a reformed EU working for it,” said Mr Cowen.

“Particularly because of the importance of this vote, I am calling on all citizens to make the time to vote tomorrow between 7am and 10pm.”

But the no campaign also believes its hopes are dependent on a high turnout. Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said: “The main thing we are doing today is asking people to come out and vote. It is very clear that people have huge misgivings about this treaty. It is clear that it is a bad deal; that the Government not only can do better, but have a responsibility to do better.

“But in order for them to do that, we need people to come out to vote.”

The Government is basing its calculations on patterns established from previous referendums, whereby the no vote constitutes between 18% and 20% of the electorate. This means that a turnout below 40% would almost certainly see the treaty defeated. But should the turnout be in the mid-40s or higher, the Government believes it will pass the treaty.

The no campaign, however, says the Government is underestimating public sentiment and a high turnout would be evidence of determined anti-Lisbon voters turning out in force. Anti-Lisbon group Libertas reiterated its message that the Government could negotiate a better deal if the treaty was rejected. “We can do this. We can get a better deal for our country,” the group said.

Counting will begin at 9am tomorrow and the Department of the Environment, which has responsibility for referendums, believes the result should be known between 3pm and 5pm.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who is supporting a yes vote, said citizens had a responsibility to vote today given Ireland was the only country putting Lisbon to a referendum. “With that unique power also comes a particular responsibility: a responsibility to exercise the vote. I hope... Irish voters will turn out in large numbers to ensure that we get a result that accurately reflects the views of the electorate,” he said.

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Just voted  30% voter turn out at my local polling station so far with just a little over 4 and half hours to go 

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Dublin referendum turn-out average by midday
http://euobserver.com/9/26317
12 June 2008

EUOBSERVER / DUBLIN - Dublin, home to roughly half Ireland's 3 million voters, is seeing average turn-out for a referendum, according to unofficial reports.

Across the capital, voting districts were reporting turnout ranging from nine percent to 18 percent of the total electorate as of midday, averaging 12.6 percent, according to spokespeople for the Dublin City Returning Officer.

The highest turn-out has so far been in Northside, the northern, more working class areas of the city. Working class voters are expected to break more strongly for the No side.

Nonetheless, the turnout split across the city may yet change substantially as people from middle class areas with lower levels of unemployment return home from work.

"Turnout tends to shoot up a little bit more in the early evening after work, as people vote on their way home," said John Wheelan of the Environment Department, the government department in charge of the referendum.

Polls are open quite late today. Having opened at 7 am, they do not close until 10 pm – in an effort to boost turn-out.

If Dublin leans towards the No on a high turn-out, campaigners on both sides say this would signal a win for the anti-treaty forces, as rural Ireland is expected to break marginally for the No as well. If Dublin goes Yes, all remains in play, as the urban vote could be balanced by farmers.

At the same time, the Irish Farmers' Association last week called on its members to support the Yes side, although having made a commitment so late in the game, farmers may yet go for the No.

At the Youthreach Centre polling station on Pleasants Street in south central Dublin, a mixed working class and middle class area, turnout was 11 percent.

Ben Bishop, the station's chief presiding officer, said such a turnout for a referendum was slightly higher than normal for the city centre. "It's normally two to three percent by this point in the day."

Up the road at the Synge Street polling station, in a middle class neighbourhood, turnout was nine percent as of midday, according to the poll's officer.

"It's been a steady trickle all morning – about what you'd expect," said presiding officer Vincent Tierney. "For a referendum, we'd expect by the end of the day about 30 percent. It's much higher for a general election."

Jackie Rhodes, manning the tables at the same polling station and a veteran election worker, said: "It's pretty average for a referendum, regardless of how contentious it is."

"It's too close to call. There've been an awful lot of people changing their minds just in the last few days – both ways."

Meanwhile, campaigners from the continent were out in force again today. The Young European Federalists setting up camp in St Stephen's Green, and a van-load of ten members of Attac, the alter-globalisation group that led the successful No campaign in France in 2005 laid out their stalls and literature outside the General Post Office, the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Uprising that presaged the country's independence from Britain.

The smartly dressed Young Federalists were broadly optimistic and reported "excellent" support from Dubliners, while the Attac activists also reported a "fantastic" attitude from voters.

One passer-by, Emma, a grandmother from Hayes, said: "I don't trust that lot in the parliament. They'd sell you a goat and tell you it's a race horse!"

Papers focus on turn-out

The Irish media for their part have focussed on the importance of turn-out.

The Irish Times front page lead story described how both sides were encouraging voters to make their mark, next to a large photograph of a sword swallower street performer, who had yesterday won the Guinness World Record for the highest number of simultaneous swords swallowed – 27, each bearing a different EU member state's flag.

The Irish Independent told readers that Ireland "needs to vote Yes" and also featured the street performer, headlined referendum "On a knife-edge".

The Irish Examiner also lead with government hopes for a high turn-out, while the Irish editions of the British tabloids – the right-wing and Euro-sceptic Irish Daily Mail, the Star and the Irish Sun – but not the Mirror - called on voters to choose No. The centre-left Mirror told readers they "must vote Yes".

The Sun's front-page, true to stereotype, bore a half-naked young woman with two X-marked voting papers covering her breasts alongside a frowning European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and a headline screaming: "No Way Jose."

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Pope hails Irish role in Europe
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7450602.stm
12 June 2008

The pope has timed a speech about the role of Ireland in European history to coincide with the eve of the Lisbon Referendum.

Pope Benedict has used his weekly audience to praise the central role of Irish missionaries in European history, a day before voters go to the polls to decide the future of the Lisbon Treaty.

Speaking to tens of thousands of pilgrims in St Peter's Square, the Pope gave a sermon about the life of St Columbanus, an Irish monk born in 543 who travelled to Europe to spread Christianity.

In his speech charting the saint's life, Pope Benedict said that Columbanus could be called a "European saint".

The Pope explained that Columbanus, who was born in Leinster, entered monastic life in Bangor aged 20, before leaving "with 12 companions to begin missionary work on the European continent, where the migration of peoples from the north and the east had caused entire Christian regions to lapse back into paganism".

He established three monasteries, including one built in Luxeuil which "became the centre for the expansion of monastic and missionary life of the Irish tradition on mainland Europe".

Columbanus and his Irish monks were expelled in 610 and "condemned to definitive exile" after a row with King Theodric over the monarch's "adulterous relationships," the Pope explained.

Unable to return to Ireland, they moved to Switzerland where they continued their work.

'Founding father of Europe'

The saint was an early advocate of European unity, at least in religious terms.

The church was split with schisms in northern Italy, prompting Columbanus to write "a letter to Pope Boniface IV to convince him to make certain decisive steps towards re-establishing unity".

Pope Benedict described Columbanus as one of the founding "Fathers of Europe".

"(Columbanus) spent all his energies to nourish the Christian roots of the nascent Europe.

"With his spiritual strength, with his faith, with his love of God and neighbour, he became one of the Fathers of Europe, showing us today the way to those roots from which our continent may be reborn," he said.
 
While the Pope did not urge a "yes" vote in Ireland, church sources said that the timing of his speech would not have been accidental.

He has frequently spoken about the need for European unity and for a Europe as a "community" which he has said must acknowledge its Christian heritage.

He also chose the name Benedict, as the last Pope Benedict was a vigorous advocate of European unity, striving to avoid the outbreak of World War.

While the Irish Catholic hierarchy has not taken a stance for or against the Lisbon Treaty, or directed its congregation on how to vote, a statement by Irish bishops last month was widely seen as supportive of the treaty.

It urged voters not to register a protest vote and condemned groups spreading "false information", a regular jibe by the "yes" campaign used against their opponents in the "no" camp.

"Those who seek to influence the outcome of the referendum either by offering misleading or patently incorrect advice or by introducing extraneous factors into the debate, ought to be condemned," the bishops said in their statement.

The bishops also said they believed the treaty would not change Ireland's constitutional prohibition on abortion, an argument put forward by some, including a number of clergy, against the treaty.

The Pope is close to the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmaid Martin, who was a senior figure and diplomat in the Vatican when Pope Benedict was cardinal.

Archbishop Martin presented the Irish Catholic bishops' statement on the Irish media, and is likely to have briefed the Vatican on the referendum.

Whether this inspired a speech by the Pope about Irish missionaries' historic role in Europe - just as the country's people determine the future shape of Europe in the referendum - is probably a Vatican decision likely to remain behind closed doors.

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European Treaty: Irish plan to get around 'no' vote
U.K Telegraph
12 June 2008

Officials in Brussels are working on plans to ensure that the European Treaty is still implemented elsewhere if Ireland votes against it in the referendum.
Although measures such as creating an EU president, "foreign minister" and European diplomatic service may be delayed, they are still expected to be introduced.

One diplomat said a "bridging mechanism" was being discussed. If Ireland rejects the treaty, it may simply be removed from the list of signatories and will not be legally obliged to abide by it.

By late 2009 or early 2010, when Croatia joins the EU, an amending "Accession Treaty" will be signed by all members including Dublin.

Incorporated into it would be a series of protocol texts giving paper "opt-outs" on controversial Irish EU issues, such as taxation powers or greater military co-operation.

Such texts would be similar to Britain's existing protocol opt-outs on the Charter of Fundamental Rights and social issues in the Lisbon Treaty text being ratified in Westminster.

Ireland, like the rest of the Europe, does not hold referendums on EU enlargement treaties and with new protocol opt-outs Dublin may get a new Accession Treaty past the Irish parliament without a popular vote.

"This mechanism would be no more incomprehensible or legalistic than the Treaty itself," said one official.

"It is probably no more difficult than the legal footwork necessary to turn the Constitutional Treaty into [the] Lisbon [treaty] after the French and Dutch rejected it. The issue will be timing."

In recent weeks, Irish officials have held secret talks to implement the Lisbon Treaty regardless of any referendum on the text.

During talks to create an EU diplomatic corps on May 7 and May 13, Irish diplomats presented a position on the composition of the European External Action Service and role of the EU's new "foreign minister".

Secret minutes seen by The Daily Telegraph show that Ireland's EU ambassador, Bobby McDonagh, pleaded with his colleagues to keep the talks and Dublin's position confidential. "[We] have to remain cautious in presenting these issues [referendum]!," the minutes record.

The House of Lords rejected a Conservative bid to force a British referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, with Liberal Democrat peers siding with the Government to defeat the move by 280 votes to 218.

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"Incitement" claims Limerick City Council
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87948
12 June 2008

Limerick City Council claim signs erected by the Lisbon Campaign for Middle East Justice and Peace (LCMEJP) were an "incitement" The Council removed at least 5 large "No to Lisbon" referendum signs from locations around the city between the 26th May and the 11th June without informing anyone. Gardai in Henry st., Roxboro and Mary St. stations have been investigating this matter for over four weeks. The story was covered in the Limerick Leader two weeks in a row and in the Limerick Independent and the Irish Times but Council officials never thought it appropriate to contact the Gardai, LCMEJP or the printers event though contact details were on the signs

Limerick City Council this afternoon revealed they were responsible for the disappearance of a number of large referendum signs belonging to the Lisbon Campaign for Middle East Justice and Peace (LCMEJP). The admission came following the discovery that two signs erected in the city last night were missing. A Limerick City Council official, Mr. Paul O'Grady from the Environmental Section, confirmed that following a complaint from a member of staff in a different section claiming that the signs constituted incitement he instructed their removal. Mr. O' Grady refused to disclose the identity of the member of staff or which section he/or she works in.

When asked what part of the sign constituted incitement Mr. O'Grady responded that the signs were of a political nature and "had nothing to do with the EU referendum" It was pointed out to him that if he had read the signs the bottom line clearly stated in very large bold print "Say NO to Lisbon" Mr.O' Grady then said the signs were a danger to traffic as motorists were "rubber-necking" to read them. He offered no evidence to back up this assertion. He next stated that no permission was sought from the Council to erect the signs on Council property. When asked if any other person or group had sought permission he confirmed that no one else had done so either. He then claimed the signs had defaced the green area by making holes in the ground.

On hearing all this I was shocked and amazed. I had not previously contacted the City Council about the missing signs as prior to erecting them I phoned the Council's Environmental Section to enquire about the regulation and restrictions pertaining to the erection of signs in the run up to the referendum. Aware of the restrictions I took special care to ensure the signs were all placed in locations which did not block traffic signs or interfere with lines of sight for motorists or pose a danger to pedestrians.

I began noting down what Mr. O'Grady was saying and he took immediate umbrage and accused me of threatening him. I responded "the only thing threatening you are your own words" He then asked another member of staff to call Henry Street - a reference to the Garda station. When I asked to have the signs back he said I would have to make the request in writing before he would consider it. I asked for and was given a sheet of paper and immediately requested the return of the signs in writing. He refused to give them to me and said that he would consider doing so tomorrow.

I left the office and as I was leaving City Hall a Garda car with siren blaring and blue light flashing sped up to the front door an two Gardai rushed into the building. I remained by the door and made some phone calls before heading away. I went to Henry St. Garda station and informed them about the incident and asked if a Garda would accompany me as I went back to seek the return of the signs. The Gardai would not do this. In the interim I contacted Edward Horgan, renowned peace activist and anti-war campaigner and John Hogan a journalist from the Limerick Leader and both agreed to accompany me to the City Hall.

On return to City Hall with Mr. Horgan and Mr. Hogan I asked Mr. O'Grady to explain why he had removed the signs. He presented me with a letter as follows:

Dear Mr. Clinton

Re:- Removal of signs from Green Areas

Further to your visit to this office earlier this afternoon, I wish to confirm the following:

I enclose a copy of Section 19 of the Litter Act for reference purposes (source www.irishstatutebook.ie) In this context I would refer you in particular to sub section 19(1) and 19(7).

1. I confirm that only the AA, Limerick City Council and statutory bodies are allowed to erect signs or advertising material on City Council property. A number of written dispensations are granted to community based groups subject to compliance with strict conditions.

2. I confirm that, on my instruction and on foot of consultation with the other departments and bodies, a number of signs (representing various view points) were removed from green areas across the city over the past month for the following reasons:
a) Perceived distraction to passing motorists
b) Perceived risk of collapse or damage to other property
c) Hole damage to green areas.
d) Obstruction of grass cutting.
e) Perceived worries about incitement in certain cases
f) Lack of insurance or indemnity cover
g) Absence of consent from the property owner (Council)

3. I confirm also that the City Council's policy in this regard is consistent and impartial.

Finally, Limerick City Council will return the signs seized this morning, to you, later today on receipt of written confirmation from you that they will not be re-erected on City Council property at any time.

Please feel free to contact me at any time should you wish to discuss the matter further.

Yours sincerely

Paul O'Grady
Executive Engineer,
Environment and Parks Departments.
E-mail pogrady@limerickcity.ie

I asked that the signs be returned to me immediately and Mr O' Grady refused saying that unless I gave him a written undertaking not to re-erect the signs on City Council property. I refuse to do so as I felt entitled to erect the signs as long as I observed the Regulation. I did undertake to abide by the Regulations just as other groups had done and he then agreed to return the signs.

I again asked Mr. O'Grady to identify the member of staff who had requested the signs be removed and once again he refused to disclose the persons identity. I was told that if I made a request under the Freedom of Information Act I would get a response in two months.

I was told that I could retrieve the sign from the Park Road depot. Before doing so went to the adjacent court house to seek an emergency injunction to prevent the City Council from removing the signs in the future . We were advise by legal council that the chances of getting such an order so late in the afternoon were slim.

We went to Park Road depot to collect the signs but only two of the signs could be found, four others could not be located.

Following this we decided to go back to court to try and get the injunction. At about 4:20 as a criminal case was concluding the Senior Council we had briefed earlier made an appeal to the judge but the judge refuse to consider the matter at short notice and suggested we return in the morning.

This bizarre development came about following investigation over the past three weeks by Gardai in Henry St, Roxboro, and Mary St. and following reports about the incidents two successive weeks in the Limerick Leader newspaper and reports in the Limerick Independent and the Irish Times. Yet Limerick City Council made no attempt to contact the Gardai or the LCMEJP even though contact information was on the signs.

Numerous other signs from various campaigns adorn City Council property all over Limerick yet the City Council removed all of the signs belonging to LCMEJP even though they did not interfere with traffic, block any road signs or pose any danger to pedestrians or motorists - I believe to claim otherwise is a travesty.

I believe that this incident exposes a clear abuse of power and influence by public officials and constitutes a deliberate attempt to interfere with the democratic process in the run up to a referendum. In order to allay public fears in this regard the City Council should answer the following questions:

1. How is "Perceived distraction to passing motorists" accessed, calibrated and quantified?

2. How many passing motorists were observed to be distracted and in what period of time?

3. How does the level of distraction observed compare to the distraction posed by other possibly much more attractive advertising around the city?

4. Does this criteria apply to all signage and advertising within the City and if not why not?

5. Under what statue is "Perceived distraction to passing motorists" a criterion for the removal of advertising?

6. Was it perceived by the City Council that the signs in question were at risk of collapse or damage to other property. If so on what basis?

7. What criteria are used to access "hole damage to green areas" while signs are in place?

8. If signs are in place how can there be hole damage? Surely holes only appear if signs are removed and the holes are not filled in?

9. What are the minimum dimensions of holes that constitute "damage to green areas"?

10. Given that every sign erected on a post in the ground could in some way obstruct grass cutting what are the criterion to which such signs must adhere in order not to constitute an obstruction to grass cutting?

11. What in the opinion of the city council constitutes incitement?

12. How exactly did these signs constitute incitement?

13. Has the council brought this matter to the attention of the Gardai and if not why not?

14. How many signs relating to the Lisbon Treaty referendum were removed owing to a lack of insurance cover or indemnity?

15. How many bodies or individuals have sought and been granted written permission by the City Council to erect signage in relation to the referendum?

The two signs recovered from Limerick City Council were erected again this evening in Clare Street, Limerick from where they City Council removed them, illegally I believe on Monday 26th May. I publically challenge Limerick City Council to inform the public why they removed these signs and explain why they targeted these signs while ignoring other adjacent signs.

Furthermore, in order to assure the public that the member of staff who claimed the signs were an incitement did not have a ulterior motive, this person should be identified and asked to back up the claim.

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Welcome to the website of the Referendum Returning Officer for referendums in Ireland.
http://www.referendum.ie/home/

Polling at the referendum on the proposal for the amendment of the Constitution contained in the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 will take place on Thursday 12 June 2008 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10p.m. Results from each constituency received at the Central Count Centre, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2 on the day of the count, Friday 13 June, will be available shortly afterwards here at www.referendum.ie

[Rob Sandman]

As another Irishman like Sub,
as well as a citizen of the world like us all,I would just like to add my hopes and prayers that the Irish Electorate have been awake enough to see through the tissue of lies and desperation surrounding this attempt to pull the wool over the whole worlds eyes,
throughout the past weeks and months people like Sub X and myself(and many,many others,I shall not name them for fear of missing some,but you all know who you are and God bless you all) have campaigned constantly to let people know the horrible truth behind this innocent seeming treaty,
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87518
with lies from politicians on all sides of the fence,
BLATANT THREATS from the French foreign minister,
http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/politics/french-foreign-minister-warns-ireland-over-lisbon-1402904.html
and last ditch desperate efforts from our fat gangster of a new taoiseach
to promise us "everything will be ok if we vote yes"
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/crisis-for-cowen-as-no-vote-surges-1399565.html
we are under increasing efforts to "shut up,be happy"
I want people to remember this line in particular...
"Mr Cowen has told the Irish Independent he will accept responsibility for the outcome of the referendum as he called on voters to "enthusiastically vote 'Yes'" as the treaty is about "trying to secure jobs"

Well mr cowen(I do not capitalise your name as I do not believe you deserve it) I put it to you that you SHOULD be ready to accept responsibility for your actions if a yes vote turns out to be a nightmare for all of the 490 MILLION citizens of Europe,and a major step in the process of the nightmare for the rest of the world.

Ireland has a strong proud people,a history of opposing oppression and a wonderful culture,we have stood against Tyranny in the past,but never has our small country carried such a burden,
I only hope that our people vote with their conscience and throw this pack of lies back in the eurocrats faces,
I am not associated with any political party or group,I am just a person with open eyes like many of us,
All of you who are Religious,please pray for us,those of you who are not please appeal to Universal justice to swing the right way.
I will leave you with the words of an Irishman of whom we should all be rightly proud(and WE ARE!)who can say it so much better than me
"What we must aim at is the building of a sound economic life in which great discrepancies cannot occur. We must not have destitution or poverty at one end, and at the other an excess of riches in the possession of a few individuals, beyond what they can spend with satisfaction and justification. The growing wealth of Ireland will, we hope, be diffused through all our people, all sharing in the growing prosperity, each receiving what each contributes in the making of that prosperity, so that the wealth of all is ensured."
Michael Collins In a letter to Desmond Fitzgerald on July 12th, 1922 only a month before his untimely death

thank you all for reading,and thank Sub X for making the effort to keep us all informed,
God(or whoever is tending the light at the end of the tunnel) bless us all.

[Sub-X]

"What we must aim at is the building of a sound economic life in which great discrepancies cannot occur. We must not have destitution or poverty at one end, and at the other an excess of riches in the possession of a few individuals, beyond what they can spend with satisfaction and justification. The growing wealth of Ireland will, we hope, be diffused through all our people, all sharing in the growing prosperity, each receiving what each contributes in the making of that prosperity, so that the wealth of all is ensured."
Michael Collins In a letter to Desmond Fitzgerald on July 12th, 1922 only a month before his untimely death

Great quote there.Thanks Mr.Sandman,and could you bring me a dream  . If George Washington was Irish,he would have been Michael Collins  .Hopefull we can return the favour to a man that was murdered for the very constitition we are fighting to save today. I hope today we will do the big fella proud.

[Sub-X]

The Europe We Stand For
http://www.caeuc.org/index.php?q=node/328
13 June 2008

The Charter of Principles for Another Europe – the fruit of two years work by a wide diversity of progressive European social movements – sets out the vision of an alternative Europe – one based on peace, ecology, democracy and social justice. The document was elaborated within the framework of the European Social Forum. The full text is available at the following link:

Europe Charter of principles for another Europe

[dogmadestroyer]

Sub.. Do you sleep?

[Sub-X]

Sub.. Do you sleep?

  I just woke up 

[dogmadestroyer]

  I just woke up 

Fair enough, I'm headed off to bed. I hope to see a big fat "NO" on my computer screen when I wake up tomorrow.

[Sub-X]

Fair enough, I'm headed off to bed. I hope to see a big fat "NO" on my computer screen when I wake up tomorrow.

I don't have a noramlly sleeping habits 

Sleep well man and I hope that NO will be waiting you as you arise from your slumber 

[oshea.declan]

Early tallies in the Lisbon Referendum count from constituencies around the country are showing a very strong showing by the No vote.

The No vote is strong in many rural areas and in working class districts of cities, while middle class areas appear to be less supportive of the treaty than had been anticipated.


The early trend is all one way - against the Lisbon Treaty. However, it must be stressed that these are only tallies, and that the result could be tighter than indications so far.

But most rural constituencies are showing a No vote - including Mayo, where Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has forecast his home constituency will vote against the treaty.

In urban areas, middle class areas by and large appear to have voted in favour of the Treaty - but not by the normal large margin, and not by enough to counteract the large No in working class areas.

Turnout is estimated to have been in the mid-40s percentage range. After years of negotiation and months of debate, the fate of the Lisbon Treaty will be known within hours.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0613/eulisbon.html

[Sub-X]

First Tally on Lisbon in Berties Constituency -60/40 against
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87957
June 13, 2008

Is Lisbon -II on the cards?

First tally...60%-NO 40%YES.
 
Newstalk-106 just said that the first tallys are in from Dublin Castle. So far it stands at 60 % against the Treaty and 40% for.
This is an early count and is only an indication of a possible outcome. it is not the outcome, it is to early to call yet- just stuck that in for the devils of detail.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahernes constituency in Dromcondra which was expected to return a positive result for the Government is showing 60/40 also.

Working class areas across the city are polling greater margins. Cherry orchard in one box opened had 9 votes for and 116 against .

Middle class areas are polling dissappointingly for the Government according to a correspondent in Dublin Castle.
If this trend continnues throughout the day it is obvious what the out come will be. One percent of the European population voted for the other 99 % who diddnt get a chance to. A little dignity restored to Irelands name internationally.

[dogmadestroyer]

I hope they make good on the thread to kick Ireland out of the EU.  That would save you guys a whole lot of trouble.

[Sub-X]

I hope they make good on the thread to kick Ireland out of the EU.  That would save you guys a whole lot of trouble.

Its starting to look that way now 

Irish voters set to reject Lisbon Treaty
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0613/eulisbon.html
13 June 2008

It seems certain that Irish voters have rejected the Lisbon Treaty.

Although official results are only starting to come in, tallies of votes have shown a very strong No vote right across the country.

Waterford was the first constituency to declare an official result - and it was unequivocal, rejecting Lisbon by 54-46, while Sligo-North Letrim voted no by 57-43. Tipperary South also voted No, by 53-46.

In Waterford and Sligo-North Leitrim, the No vote was higher than was recorded in the first Nice Referendum, and if as seems likely it is followed in other parts of the country, the Lisbon Treaty looks certain to be defeated.

Tallies from other constituencies show the strength of the No vote across the country, with just a handful of constituencies looking like they will vote yes.

The margin of victory for the No side may be a bit tighter than was suggested in the initial tallies - but there seems little doubt that it is a victory.

The final official result is expected to be announced late this afternoon.

Strong No vote seen in tallies

Tallies of votes have indicated there has been a strong No vote - although the Yes side appeared to have made up some ground.

The nationwide trend had indicated a very strong showing by opponents of the Lisbon Treaty - but as the morning went on and tallies became more complete, the Yes side has regained some ground.

Complete tallies are available from around half the constituencies - although they come with a strong warning that some of them may not be all that accurate.

Judging by those tallies, middle class constituencies like Dublin South, Dublin South East and Dún Laoghaire seem likely to have a 60-40 vote in favour of Lisbon.

However the No vote was said to be ahead in Dublin North West, Dublin Central, Cork North Central and South Central, both Kerry constituencies, both Tipperary constituencies, and Galway West.

Early tallies had pointed to a very strong showing by the No vote.

The No vote was strong in many rural areas and in working class districts of cities, while middle class areas appeared to be less supportive of the treaty than had been anticipated.

In urban areas, middle class areas by and large appeared to have voted in favour of the treaty - but not by the normal large margin, and not by enough to counteract the large No in working class areas.

In Mayo, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has forecast his home constituency will vote against the treaty.

Turnout is estimated to have been in the mid-40s percentage range. After years of negotiation and months of debate, the fate of the Lisbon Treaty will be known within hours.

Each constituency counts its own votes separately, and then sends the result to the Referendum Returning Officer in Dublin Castle, who will announce the overall result.

Turnout is thought to have been higher than in the first Nice Referendum, which was defeated, but lower than in the second, which was passed.

However, with recent opinion polls suggesting that supporters of the treaty were more likely to vote, a lower turnout is not necessarily good news for the No side.

[Sub-X]

Lisbon: Martin says lack of information a big issue
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0613/eulisbonreax.html
13 June 2008

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said the big issue in the campaign was the perceived lack of information.

He said people were in doubt and when in doubt . leave out.

He said some people still believed that this could lead to conscription and that the right to life of the unborn an issue.

He said that for a certain section of the electorate there is a sense that there is a risk there in relation to abortion.

Minister Martin said that in the first instance we have to do a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the campaign and the attitudes of people.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has said it does not look good at this stage, it appears to be a strong No.

He said he became despondent over the last number of days, particularly having talked to women about their fears about conscription.

He said this was Plan B and we are now in unchartered territory. We will have to wait for reaction from the member states to this decision. He said it will be interesting to see what their attitude will be.

Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell has said it will be difficult to turn the referendum to the Yes side.

Mr Mitchell was commenting as he arrived at Dublin Castle and said that issues involved in the campaign needed to be looked at.

He said the argument that there was a lack of information about the treaty does not stand up.

Pat Cox from the Alliance for Europe said it is too soon to call the result definitively but it does raise a lot of questions for Ireland and the EU.

He predicted that if Ireland does reject the treaty that the ratification process will proceed elsewhere.

European Reaction

The Head of the Socialist Grouping in the European Parliament has said he is very worried about the information coming from Ireland.

Speaking in Brussels, German MEP Martin Schulz said that if there is a no vote in Ireland it will be one of the biggest problems in the European Union for a long time.

He said that it is now up to the Irish Government to explain to Europe how we should proceed.

 He said Brian Cowen should explain to Europe what kind of proposals he can make.

Mr Schulz said he thinks the other states should also openly say if they want this union in this style, or another one.

He added that there should open a debate about the future of the European Union with those states who want to deepen the integration.

He said that perhaps those states who do not want to deepen the integration should not be included.

'We need a catharsis in the European Union,' he said

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Yes Mr.Martin you and your government seen fit not to inform the people of Ireland because of the contempt and how out of touch your over payed,under achieving excuse for politicians show us everyday of lives.