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

[Biggs]

a new anti-NWO left is a great idea, something that I suspect the NWO are very scared of, they prefer to keep it a right wing thing so as to avoid mass support from the left.

[Sub-X]

Lisbon treaty: Pressure on Ireland for second vote
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/19/lisbon.ireland
15 July 2008

The Irish government is under mounting pressure to stage a second referendum on the European Union reform treaty. As EU leaders met in Brussels to respond to the Lisbon treaty's crushing defeat last week by Irish voters, Brian Cowen, the Irish prime minister, went into his first EU summit as head of government facing growing calls to ask his public to vote again.

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who takes over the EU presidency in 10 days, let it be known that he wanted all other 26 EU countries to ratify the treaty swiftly. His foreign policy adviser said the best solution to the Irish no vote was a rerun.

Gordon Brown arrived in Brussels in the unaccustomed position of having boosted his pro-EU credentials by completing the UK's ratification of the treaty on the eve of the summit, a step that other EU states saw as softening the Irish blow. Sarkozy, who lunched with Brown in Paris before both men travelled to Brussels, praised the prime minister for his "political courage" in pressing ahead with the British ratification in the face of Conservative calls for a halt. "I want to say how pleased I am and thank him for demonstrating political courage by leading the ratification process of the Lisbon treaty," Sarkozy said. "He did this with commitment and much strength."

The British government maintains it is up to Dublin to decide how to proceed, but France and Germany want a new ballot. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, who met Cowen on her own today for discussions, was careful to avoid any suggestion of bullying Ireland following heavy criticism of trenchant German statements earlier in the week.

Cowen said it was too early to decide on solutions, while José Manuel Barroso, the European commission chief, said an EU summit in October was "the appropriate moment" for this. Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's foreign minister, said Ireland would need to have a second vote: "The question is how can we prepare it so that it can be won." Elmar Brok, a senior MEP from Merkel's Christian democratic party, declared controversially that Ireland would need to vote again and a new referendum would decide whether Ireland stayed in the EU or not.

Speculation is raging in Brussels over what might be promised to Cowen to make a second referendum a less distressing prospect. The treaty reduces the number of commissioners in Brussels from the current 27 to 18, a change that has upset Ireland and other small countries. Barroso said it would be "extremely difficult" to tinker with the treaty to make it more palatable to Ireland, meaning guaranteeing the country a permanent European commissioner permanently would be almost impossible.

Amid the head-scratching, no one suggested the treaty should be scrapped. "We need the Lisbon Treaty," said Merkel, calling for quick decisions and a fast solution. "Europe can't afford to have another phase of reflection."

That contrasted with the British position. "We do need a period of reflection," said a UK government official. German government sources conceded that the Irish government needed time, but said the two-day summit would achieve a "magnificent result" if it agreed on a timetable for action.

An expected statement will refer to Cowen's explanation for the Irish rejection and voice "respect" for the Irish electorate's verdict. The statement, drafted today, calls on the seven EU countries that have not yet endorsed the treaty to continue with ratification.

France and Germany were keen to emphasise the need for further ratification, seen as a way of putting pressure on Ireland. But the Czech government, which has parked ratification for several months in its supreme court, threatened to veto such a process. "We won't vote for that. It makes no sense," said Karl Schwarzenberg, the Czech foreign minister.

Brown would ideally like ratification to be wrapped up by next year to avoid a damaging row with the Tories, who have pronounced the treaty dead, in the run up the next general election, expected in 2010. But the prime minister believes EU leaders cannot brush aside the no vote in Ireland, which may have to lead to a substantive declaration from EU leaders if there is to be a second Irish vote.

British government sources would not be drawn on what changes might be made and on whether a deadline - possibly the next European summit in October - should be placed on the Irish government to reach a view.

[Sub-X]

It's deja vu as Sarkozy visit raises curtain for Lisbon II
Irish Independent
15 July 2008

THE Government is considering inviting opposing sides of the Lisbon Treaty to a forum attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Dublin next week, the Irish Independent has learned.

News of Mr Sarkozy's involvement in the first public postmortem on the defeat of the Lisbon Treaty sparked mixed reactions from the 'Yes' and 'No' camps last night.

The president's advisers will arrive in Dublin today to meet government officials and begin making arrangements for next Monday's brief, six-hour visit.

One of the options to be discussed is the possibility of inviting the Lisbon's 'Yes' and 'No' camps to re-engage again for a high-tempo debate.

Last night, a spokeswoman for the Forum on Europe, which held debates in Dublin Castle between all camps throughout the treaty campaign, said the independent group would be willing to host a forum next week, if asked.

Optics

Sinn Fein last night branded the move an "optics exercise which basically amounts to a talking shop".

The Taoiseach will today leave for a state visit to New York following his weekend attendance at the European summit and Bastille Day celebrations in Paris.

"The option of holding a forum is going to be looked at. There won't be any decisions until the end of the week," a government spokesman confirmed last night.

Sources on both sides of the Lisbon divide believe the French president is eager to debate with 'No' campaigners on some of the controversial and contentious claims made during the divisive campaign.

He is also said to be determined to find a resolution to the current stalemate before his term as EU president concludes in December.

"I will go to Ireland on July 21 to listen and talk and try to find solutions," he said.

However, the Taoiseach has been reluctant to sign up to any such deadlines, insisting during his visit to Paris that the government will provide a "review" on the treaty at the October summit.

Next week's much-anticipated visit of Mr Sarkozy has also stirred mixed emotions within Fine Gael and Labour, with some expressing concern that the president's propensity to stir debate and controversy could impact negatively on the future of the treaty.

Earlier this month, Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell claimed the "last thing we need now is President Sarkozy riding into town with instructions and advice".

However, some of the president's remarks on the treaty fallout have been welcomed, namely among the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), after he claimed that Europe's trade commissioner Peter Mandelson should accept some of the blame for Ireland's rejection of the treaty.

Sinn Fein MEP Mary Lou McDonald said her party would still be seeking a one-to-one meeting.

"Given that Mr Sarkozy will only be in the country for a very short time, you would have to question if there will be sufficient time for a satisfactory forum," she said. "Really, this forum proposal is more about optics than political substance. It could end up a talking-shop. I'm just not convinced."

Last night, a spokesman for Labour said the party had not been approached with any proposals and would not be commenting until something was outlined in detail.

Concerns

During his visit to Paris, the Taoiseach defended Mr Sarkozy's decision to travel to Ireland to discuss the Lisbon Treaty, and insisted he has no concerns about what the French president might say.

Although it remains unclear as to whether Mr Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni, will accompany him next Monday, it was last night deemed unlikely because it is a political visit.

"Unlike the Slovenian President, who visited Ireland in April as European President to no publicity or attention, Mr Sarkozy's visit is sure to be different," one source claimed last night.

The right wing lobby group Coir said Taoiseach Brian Cowen should tell Mr Sarkozy, prior to any future Irish visit, that the Lisbon Treaty "is dead in the water".

"It is simply deplorable that any foreign politician would come to a sovereign nation and attempt to tell voters what to do," said Coir spokesman Richard Greene.

[Sub-X]

Sarkozy says Ireland will have to vote again
http://euobserver.com/9/26493
16 July 2008

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that Ireland will have to vote once more on the EU treaty, in a move bound to ruffle feathers in Dublin, which has yet to say publicly how it plans to react to last month's treaty rejection.

According to a report in the Irish Times, Mr Sarkozy told a meeting of deputies from his UMP party in Paris on Tuesday (15 July): "The Irish will have to vote again."

The phrase was repeated to journalists by several deputies leaving the meeting.

The remark comes ahead of Mr Sarkozy's visit to Ireland on Monday (21 July) to discuss Ireland's options with Prime Minister Brian Cowen.

Speculation has been high about the political room for manuoeuvre open to Mr Cowen since Irish voters rejected the treaty on 12 June. Most analysts suggest that Dublin will have to opt for a second vote with France and Germany, in particular, keen to get the document put in place.

But this is the first time that this line of thought has been so directly connected to the Elysee Palace, which is currently also running the EU as presidency country until the end of the year.

Reacting to the comments - which were downplayed but not denied by the French government - Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin said that Mr Sarkozy will listen but not "impose a solution" during the planned five-hour talks next week.

He stressed that Ireland would take its own decision on the matter but it was too early to speculate on what this would be, reports state broadcaster RTE.

Mr Sarkozy's comments are set to raise the political stakes at next week's Dublin meeting, parts of which are also to be attended by representatives from the pro- and anti-treaty camps.

So far, Mr Cowen has refused to speculate on what his political options are. Instead, he has said he will come with further analysis of the situation at an October meeting of EU leaders.

But he is bound to be feeling the pressure, as 23 of the 27 member states have now ratified the treaty, which needs to be passed by all countries before it can go into force.

Adding to his discomfort, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the Italian parliament on Tuesday:"There has only been one No to the ratification of the treaty, and I do not expect any more."

Bloomberg reports him as saying that Polish President Lech Kaczynski had told him his country would not block treaty ratification. Mr Barroso also said the Czech Republic would not pose a problem.

Meanwhile, an article in French daily Le Monde on Tuesday suggests that as a sop to Ireland, all member states in the future will continue to have a permanent EU commissioner - instead of the reduced commission planned under the Lisbon Treaty.

This, as well as reassurances that abortion, taxation and neutrality issues will not be affected could be debated as part of an Ireland package at the October summit and adopted by EU leaders in December paving the way for a possible second Irish vote next year.

[Sub-X]

UK sidesteps courts to ratify Lisbon Treaty
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4350222.ece
17 July 2008

Britain has officially ratified the controversial Lisbon Treaty - before the legal proceedings trying to stop that happening came to an end.

The Government confirmed that the final stages of passing the agreement have been completed.

But the future of the deal is still in doubt, as EU leaders consider how to respond to Ireland’s surprise referendum “no” vote last month.

Under the UK’s ratification process, both houses of Parliament must pass the treaty.
 
The Queen then gives Royal Assent, and along with the Foreign Secretary signs “instruments of ratification” on special chlorine-free paper, which will not deteriorate over time. These are then sealed, bound in blue leather, and deposited with the Italian ministry of foreign affairs in Rome.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said all these stages had now been completed. “The documents were lodged in Rome yesterday,” he said.

The Europe Minister Jim Murphy announced the completion of the ratification process in a written statement to Parliament today.

The process had been stalled while a High Court challenge by Stuart Wheeler was considered over the Government’s refusal to hold a referendum on the treaty. That was dismissed last month, but Mr Wheeler has a hearing tomorrow in which an Appeal Court judge, Lord Justice Dyson, will decide whether to give him leave to appeal.

A similar case by William Cash, the Eurosceptic MP, was also not completed when the Government carried out its ratification. He said this morning that the Government’s behaviour was “disreputable” and in breach of a promise to the European scrutiny committee.

Later, he said he had withdrawn his High Court challenge in light of the fact that it had now taken place. Mr Cash said in the House of Commons that proceeding with ratification was “unprecedented”, because when France and Holland voted 'No' on the proposed EU Constitution in 2005, the Government chose not to proceed.

Under EU rules, all 27 member states must ratify the Treaty before it comes into effect.

President Sarkozy of France provoked anger in Ireland earlier this week by apparently suggesting privately that it would have to hold another referendum.

[Sub-X]

Uk ratifies Treaty but court case goes on
http://www.erc2.org/49.0.html
17 July 2008

• The Lisbon Treaty passed in the UK House of Commons on 11th March 2008
• It was passed in the UK House of Lords on 18th June 2008
• Royal assent was granted on 19th June 2008
• The instruments of ratification were deposited in Rome on 16th July 2008

Political Situation

17 July 2008 The instrument for ratification have been filed in Rome. The UK has officially ratified the Lisbon Treaty, however the court case filed by Stuart Wheeler which was lost is currently about to go to appeal. According to the website specially created to explain the case it says:

“We applied to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal and there was to be a hearing, on Friday 18 July, of that application. THE GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, PERFORMED THE FINAL ACT OF RATIFICATION AT NOON YESTERDAY (16 JULY) KNOWING I WAS ABOUT TO APPLY TO THE COURT FOR PERMISSION TO APPEAL. It turns out, contrary to what I had thought until very recently, that ratification can be undone until all 27 members of the EU have ratified. I am therefore proceeding with a hearing ordered by Lord Justice Dyson to be held at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning (Friday 18 July), of my application for leave to appeal.” www.stuartwheeler.co.uk

15 July 2008 Stuart Wheeler lost his case.  However he today lodged his application to the Court of Appeal to be permitted to appeal. The Lisbon Treaty is therefore not ratified in the UK. For more information see our UK court case page.

20 June 2008 - On the 2nd May Stuart Wheeler won permission for a high court challange over the British government's refusal to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during the summit announced that the UK had ratified the treaty. However with the court case this was not a wise move, and Mr Brown had to retract his earlier statement.  Britian therefore has not yet ratified the Treaty.


Find here a comprehensive report on the current situtaion in the UK!

There have been calls from across the political spectrum in the UK for a referendum on the new EU Reform Treaty. The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stated that the new Treaty is not the same as the previous Constitution therefore the referendum that was promised for the Constitution is no longer valid.[1]  However the PM faces much opposition even from within his own party over the issue. 120 Labour MPs have gone against the party line and are campaigning for a referendum[2] together with the British Conservative Party, the UK Independence Party and some MPs from the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats. Calls for a referendum are also coming from the trade unions with the GMB (Britain’s General Union) and the RMC (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) leading the way. There are many other organisations and individuals who are asking the government to hold a referendum.

The devolved Scottish Parliament has decided that it might hold a non-binding consultative poll on the new Treaty. This decision mainly surrounds the Common Fisheries Policy which the Scottish National Party (which makes up the minority government) thinks that it is in need of reform. It is also believed that if Scotland goes ahead then the devolved Northern Irish government shall follow suit and hold a consultative poll as well.[3] If the Scottish and the Northern Irish were to hold “polls” then this would have significant repercussions for the English and Welsh who would most certainly argue for their right to vote on the new Treaty.

Presently the campaigns in the UK are going strong and support for a referendum in the UK is high[4] however there has been little movement from the government towards allowing the people to have their say.

Ratification Process

The United Kingdom has no written constitution.

Ratification of International Treaties

Treaties are ratified by the Foreign Secretary, acting on the residual authority of the Crown (Royal Prerogative). Parliament has no formal role in treaty-making. However since the 1920’s there has been a constitutional practice called “the Ponsonby Rule” which requires that all treaties are subject to ratification be laid before parliament for information and debate. Under British constitutional practice, the passage of the implementing legislation is not formally part of ratification, but it must precede ratification.

Approval of European Treaties

When the UK joined the then European Economic Community, accession was preceded by the passing of the European Communities Act 1972 which made the Treaty and the law deriving from it applicable within the UK. Changes to the European treaties that implicate constitutional changes for the UK for example the Maastricht Treaty are implemented by amending the European Communities Act 1972.

Other Regulations on Referendum

Binding referendums require legal implementation as a part of the ratification-process. Consultative referendum can however be held if ordered by ad-hoc law.


Ratification of the old EU Constitution

Referendum postponed after the French and Dutch “no” votes.

Support for a EU Constitution
43% of the British population are in favour of a constitution for the European Union. - (Eurobarometer 67 June 2007)

Referendums Held on European Issues

1975: EC Membership (67,23 % Yes. 64,03 Turnout)

[mickswann]

a new anti-NWO left is a great idea, something that I suspect the NWO are very scared of, they prefer to keep it a right wing thing so as to avoid mass support from the left.

Do you think that the anti-globalisation movement fulfills the task of funneling that left-wing opposition into what is, effectively, a soft option alternative to opposing the NWO?

Many people will accept the very basic tenants of what we are saying, but are unwilling to 'join up the dots' because of the narrow scope addressed by the anti-globalism movement, which, in and of itself, only addresses the peripheral issues; the symptoms if you will, rather than the causes.

[dogmadestroyer]

Do you think that the anti-globalisation movement fulfills the task of funneling that left-wing opposition into what is, effectively, a soft option alternative to opposing the NWO?

Many people will accept the very basic tenants of what we are saying, but are unwilling to 'join up the dots' because of the narrow scope addressed by the anti-globalism movement, which, in and of itself, only addresses the peripheral issues; the symptoms if you will, rather than the causes.

I'm unsure, the anti-globalism movement is a bit schizophrenic. They don't see the globalization of government as part of globalism when it clearly is the part that allows the rest to exist.

[mickswann]

I'm unsure, the anti-globalism movement is a bit schizophrenic. They don't see the globalization of government as part of globalism when it clearly is the part that allows the rest to exist.

There's a very deliberate cut-off point between government and the corporations in anti-globalist ideology, that and the fact that they seem not believe that corruption is a western problem.

They do think that governments can be pressured into restricting corporate power when we know that those same corporations are part of the power behind the throne, as it were.

I suppose its simply a case of taking that extra step. I was certainly one of the people who came by that route, the left-wing anti-globalist path, and it does make the right-wing language of this movement a little difficult to swallow at times.

[Sub-X]

Anger as Sarkozy visit on Lisbon vote plunges into chaos
Irish Independent
18 July 2008

PLANS for the controversial visit of Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday descended into chaos last night.

Senior politicians said they had never seen such "shoddy" preparations for what was being regarded as a critical meeting on the Lisbon Treaty.

Such is the poor level of organisation, that the entire affair has been dubbed a "French farce".

Party leaders were shocked that they had not even received an official invitation to talks with the French head of state.

While refusing to condemn Mr Sarkozy for the chaos, it was clear there was increasing concern about how seriously the French organisers were taking the five-hour "summit".

There are deepening fears that the event will fail to address the concerns of the majority of Irish people who voted 'No' in last month's referendum.

Those fears come on the back of growing anger over what Mr Sarkozy said earlier this week, when he told party members that Ireland would have to hold a second vote.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was last night said to be particularly annoyed by the failure to provide proper notification.

One party insider complained that "nothing as shoddy" had ever happened with any other visit by a European head of state.

Last night, Labour was also refusing to confirm its attendance at Mr Sarkozy's hour-long meeting with treaty campaigners at the French Embassy, due to the lack of official details.

According to the official itinerary, Mr Sarkozy will meet Taoiseach Brian Cowen at Government Buildings at 1pm on Monday, where he is also likely to be confronted by noisy protesters opposed to the prospect of a second referendum.

He will give a press conference at 3.15pm and then travel to the French embassy in Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4, for a 3.45pm meeting with treaty campaigners.

He is due to leave the embassy at 5pm.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore questioned the value of the president's "short visit".

Respond

"President Sarkozy is very welcome to visit Ireland. It's not appropriate for him, though, to be telling the Irish people how we should now respond," he said.

The Government had originally been given responsibility for inviting treaty campaigners to meet Mr Sarkozy. But government insiders maintain the guest list is now being decided upon totally by the French. The French Embassy is due to announce the official guestlist today.

Former Green MEP Patricia McKenna, who has promised to protest against the visit outside Government Buildings, said it was becoming more of an Irish farce than a "French farce".

"I think a lot of the confusion is down to our own Government. They are extremely nervous about the fact that Sarkozy is quite outspoken and honest, and at least he is being more straightforward than our own politicians are," she said.

But Minister of State for Europe Dick Roche said he believed that Mr Sarkozy's comments this week about the need to hold a second referendum had been overplayed. He denied that the French president was being "corralled" into the embassy as a result.

A spokeswoman for Sinn Fein said there was disappointment that the party's request for a one-to-one meeting with Mr Sarkozy had been turned down.

Although plans to host a public meeting involving Mr Sarkozy and treaty campaigners have been abandoned, it is still not clear if the anti-treaty group Libertas will be invited to the French embassy meeting.

Libertas was unavailable for comment last night.

[Sub-X]

Britain ratifies Lisbon and sends treaty to Rome
Irish Independent
18 July 2008

Britain has officially ratified the controversial Lisbon Treaty.

The British government confirmed that the final stages of passing the agreement had been completed.

But the future of the deal is still in doubt as EU leaders consider how to respond to Ireland's surprise 'No' result in last month's referendum.

Under the UK's ratification process, both the House of Commons and the House of Lords must pass the treaty.

The queen then gives royal assent and, along with the foreign secretary, signs "instruments of ratification" on special chlorine-free paper, which will not deteriorate over time.

These are then sealed, bound in blue leather, and deposited with the Italian ministry of foreign affairs in Rome.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said all these stages had now been completed.

"The documents were lodged in Rome yesterday," he said.

[Sub-X]

Libertas accepts invitation to meet Sarkozy
http://www.libertas.org/content/view/307/1/
18 July 2008

Libertas Chairman Declan Ganley has this afternoon said he has accepted an invitation to meet French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

Sarkozy will be hosting a meeting of members of the Yes and No sides from the Lisbon Treaty campaign on Monday.

"Along with many of my fellow Irish & European citizens, I was offended to hear Sarkozy say that Ireland would have to vote again. Sarkozy himself has denied the people of France a vote on the Lisbon Treaty saying 'if there was a referendum in France, there would be no treaty'. For Sarkozy to tell Ireland to vote again is a shocking indictment of the anti-democratic attitude of some European leaders.

As a European, and in particular as current President of the European Council, Sarkozy has a democratic responsibility to respect the will of the Irish people.

The Lisbon Treaty is dead, the same formula has now been rejected by the Dutch and by Sarkozy's own people and now by the people of Ireland.

Ireland was the only country to hold a referendum, and the people said no. If our fellow Europeans in the other 26 countries were given a referendum, I am sure that most of them would give the same answer that Ireland did.

I want Europe to be strong, prosperous and democratically legitimate. Comments by Sarkozy in response to the only democratic say on the Lisbon Treaty make Europe weaker.

On Monday when we meet, I will be asking that he accept that the Irish people have rejected the Lisbon Treaty.

Libertas will not participate in any debate on the Lisbon treaty on Monday - that debate ended when the people of Ireland voted no".

[Sub-X]

VIEWS OF ANTI-LISBON CAMPAIGNERS SUPPRESSED
http://www.people.ie/press/080717.pdf
17 July 2008

Former Green MEP Patricia McKenna claims the Government is in a state of denial over the results of the Lisbon Treaty referendum and is determined to suppress the voice of those opposed to the treaty.

McKenna, who is chairperson of the People’s Movement, was reacting to reports in today’s media that plans for the French president Nicolas Sarkozy to meet in public with anti-Lisbon Treaty campaigners have been scrapped. She said “Scrapping such a move raises serious concerns about the Government’s commitment to listen to the people and to respect the result of the Lisbon referendum. It also displays a fear of public debate thatwould allow Mr. Sarkozy hear the views of the No side and allow the Irish people hear his reaction to those views.”

She said “the Government’s failure to make contact with any of the No groups since the referendum indicates an unwillingness to engage in genuine debate”.She said,“reports in today’s media that ‘the Government had been strongly opposed to the idea of a National Forum on Europe-type meeting from the beginning,believing it would grant the No side unreasonable prominence’ clearly demonstrates that the Government is still in a state of denial about the result.The reality is that the No side are already prominent by virtue of the fact they the won the referendum and no amount of suppression,spin doctoring or censorship will alter that fact.”

The former MEP also questioned the claim by the French president that he wanted “to listen” to the views of the No side during his visit to Ireland. She said “Mr. Sarkozy’s private remarks earlier this week when he told French MPs that Ireland would have to vote again indicates that he already has his mind made up. However, this comes as no surprise from a man who publicly admits that his own people would reject Lisbon again if they were given the chance to vote on it.”

“President Sarkozy was elected on a promise that he would deliver a slimmed down mini-version of the EU Constitution to his people. Instead they got a treaty that is over seven thousand words longer; admittedly it is over 50 pages shorter, because the font size was reduced and the line spacing removed. Although he did not promise the French people a referendum, he did promise them a mini-treaty, which he failed to deliver and now denies them the right to vote on this treaty because they would say NO.”

“Perhaps President Sarkozy would be better to focus on getting his own house in order before he starts dictating to the Irish people.As the current president of the EU he should be using the rejection of Lisbon to push for a full public debate on Europe’s future where the views and concerns of real people take centre stage” concluded McKenna.

[Sub-X]

CÓIR: Sarkozy should withdraw demand for second vote on Lisbon
http://www.lisbonvote.com/
PRESS RELEASE
16 July 2008

Cóir has said that the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, should withdraw his “imperious and insulting” demand for a second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty prior to visiting Ireland. Spokesman Richard Greene said that Mr Sarkozy needed to acknowledge that the treaty is dead in the water, and that Europe now needed a new direction not a new treaty.

“The Irish vote is an opportunity for Mr Sarkozy and other EU leaders to address the concerns of millions of citizens right across the EU member states who feel excluded by the democratic deficit that has arisen at the heart of the European project,” he added.

The Cóir spokesman added that if Mr Sarkozy was not willing to accept the democratic decision of the Irish people, he should be told that a visit which aimed to coax a resurrection of the treaty from the Irish would be send as insulting and will not be tolerated. .

“Mr Sarkozy has not yet made the objective of his visit to Ireland clear,” said Cóir spokesman Richard Greene. “But he has previously insisted that ratification of the Lisbon Treaty should proceed despite the Irish ‘No’ vote and his official spokesman Axel Poniatowski has stated, incorrectly, that there is no other choice for the Irish Government but to hold a second referendum.”

“It is simply deplorable that any foreign politician would come to a sovereign nation and attempt to tell voters what to do,” said Mr Greene. “Millions of citizens in member states across the EU have huge concerns with the increasingly undemocratic nature of the Union. It’s time Mr Sarkozy and his counterparts starting listening to the people rather than acting like mini-emperors”.

Mr Greene also had a strong message for an Taoiseach Brian Cowen: “The only obligation on Mr Cowen at this point in time is to tell Mr Sarkozy that the Lisbon Treaty is dead in the water. If Mr Cowen does not feel competent to represent the people’s wishes then he should resign.

[dogmadestroyer]

You know, Sarkozy is a good guy... http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=50088.0

[White Rose Sophie]

You know, Sarkozy is a good guy... http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=50088.0

Oh my gosh, the guy even looks like Baphomet.   

[Sub-X]

Oh my gosh, the guy even looks like Baphomet.   

I think myself he looks more like Herman Munster 

[dogmadestroyer]

^^ Either way, he got smacked in the face pretty hard with an ugly stick.

[Sub-X]

^^ Either way, he got smacked in the face pretty hard with an ugly stick.

Yep,I would even go so far as to say he hit the ugly tree while tied to a bungee cord 

[White Rose Sophie]

I think myself he looks more like Herman Munster 

To me, Herman Munster had a more angular jaw, and forehead.  This guy just looks like he's got cloven hooves in his italian leathers. One can be ugly without looking like an incubus. 

[dogmadestroyer]

Irish 'No' vote architect plans Europe-wide 'referendum' on Lisbon Treaty
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/2308990/Irish-'No'-vote-architect-plans-Europe-wide-'referendum'-on-Lisbon-Treaty.html
by Tim Shipman in Washington
Last updated: 12:08 AM BST 20/07/2008

The man who delivered an historic "No" vote in Ireland against the EU's Lisbon Treaty has revealed far-reaching plans to give voters throughout Europe a peoples' referendum on the handover of power to Brussels.

Declan Ganley is planning to field more than 400 candidates in next June's European Parliament elections, in the 26 countries – including Britain – where voters have had no direct say on the treaty.

The energy and rhetoric of Mr Ganley, a multimillionaire businessman, was widely credited with persuading the Irish to reject the treaty, even though every leading Irish political party apart from Sinn Fein was urging voters to say "Yes".

Now he wants to give British voters a chance to deliver a bloody nose to both the Brussels establishment and to Gordon Brown, whose party first promised and then refused a referendum in Britain.

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Ganley disclosed that he was starting to raise £75 million from online donations to run candidates in all 12 of Britain's European Parliament constituencies, and in seats throughout the EU.

He will turn his pressure group, Libertas, into a party with just one policy: to fight the Lisbon Treaty, which many see as the rejected European Constitution by the back door.

"We will tell people that Libertas is the box you put your X in if you want to vote 'No' to the Lisbon Treaty. It's clear, it's simple," he said.

"The message will be: we are now giving you a referendum and it's going to take place in June of next year at the European elections.

"People across Europe will have the chance to send the same resounding clear message that Brussels cannot continue with this treaty that the Irish people have rejected. For this to provide a meaningful opportunity for this to be a referendum, you'd have to run at least 400 candidates across Europe."

Mr Ganley spoke as the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, prepared for a visit to Ireland to assess the fall-out from June's rejection vote. The French leader, who will arrive in Dublin tomorrow, is a key supporter of the treaty and has already infuriated Irish euro-sceptics by suggesting that they "will have to vote again". Yesterday Mr Sarkozy said he would listen to Irish objections to the treaty, but added that the views of the 23 countries that had adopted the treaty already could not be overlooked.

Mr Ganley has previously flirted with the idea of expanding his campaign. But he has never before disclosed his ambition to run so many candidates in what could in effect be a Europe-wide "people's referendum" on the treaty.

He accused Mr Brown of ratifying the document without the referendum Labour once indicated it would offer: "It's not just undemocratic, it's anti-democratic," he said.

"It's an absolute disgrace that the British Government offered a referendum and then took it away. Power belongs to all the citizens of the UK and you loan that power on the condition that it is used wisely. You don't lend it to politicians to give away to someone who never has to ask you for a vote. That is what Gordon Brown has just done in just ratifying this treaty."

His plans will unsettle the Brussels establishment, which was at first dismissive of his efforts and then humiliated by his success in Ireland.

Mr Ganley, 39, made his fortune in the telecoms industry, but now runs Rivada Networks, a defence contractor with offices in Ireland and America, which supplies emergency response equipment to the military. A devout Catholic and teetotaller, who is said to work 18-hour days, he was born in London to Irish parents, but has returned to his family's roots in Co Galway, where he now lives in the former home of the folk singer Donovan with his American-born wife Delia and four children.

Mr Ganley said that campaigning on a single issue would enable voters to deliver "a clear, unequivocal message" that Europe's elites would not be able to misinterpret. In the past, EU leaders have claimed that "No" votes on the constitution in France and the Netherlands were the consequence of domestic political issues.

Mr Ganley hopes to win more than 80 seats in Strasbourg, creating a Europe-wide voting bloc which would have a strong mandate to block passage of the treaty. "There's no national party that can provide that sort of punching power in the European Parliament. The voters will have mandated candidates to go in and ensure that there will be no attempts to resuscitate the Lisbon Treaty."

Unlike many Tory eurosceptics, Mr Ganley says he supports the European Union but objects to the 287-page treaty document – which he says is far too long and complicated to be comprehensible.

[Sub-X]

This is a great move by Declan Ganley and a nice surprise for Sarkozy's visit tomorrow   

[Optimus]

Last Updated: Saturday, July 19, 2008, 19:31

SF to tell Sarkozy there can be no repeat vote
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0719/breaking37.htm

Sinn Féin says it will tell French President Nicolas Sarkozy, at a scheduled meeting in Dublin on Monday, that there can be no question of the Lisbon treaty being put to a vote again in Ireland.

Sinn Féin Lisbon campaign director Padraig MacLochlainn said today he plans to tell Mr Sarkozy that a new treaty negotiation is the only way forward.

Mr MacLochlainn said: “Subtle threats of a two speed Europe or Ireland’s isolation within the union are also nonsense. The Lisbon treaty is finished and cannot proceed with out the ratification of all member states.”

In an interview in The Irish Times today, Mr Sarkozy has said he is coming to Ireland to "listen and understand”.

"I need to understand the message that the Irish wanted to convey in voting No to a treaty signed by the representatives of the 27 member states," he said.

But the French premier has made it clear that he believes Ireland will have to vote again on the treaty which No campaigners say disregards the expressed wishes of the Irish people and is contrary to the rules of the European Union.

Arrangements for a meeting between Mr Sarkozy and prominent pro- and anti-Lisbon Treaty campaigners were thrown into confusion yesterday when the Labour Party leader, Eamon Gilmore, said he would not attend and the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, decided to reserve his position.

Both party leaders were angered by the plan for an hour-long meeting at the French embassy, at which they would be accorded the same status as unelected anti-Lisbon campaigners.

[Sub-X]

CÓIR writes to French ambassador: ‘there will be no deals; the treaty is dead.
http://www.lisbonvote.com/
PRESS RELEASE
18/7/2008

Cóir has written to the French ambassador asking that the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, recognize that “there can be no deals made to resurrect the Lisbon Treaty; the people have voted and the treaty is dead.” Spokesman Richard Greene also said that no individual or organization, whether on the ‘No’ or ‘Yes’ side of the campaign, had the right to look for changes or protocols to the treaty. “The people voted down this treaty. They didn’t vote for renegotiation. They didn’t authorize anyone to look for changes. No mandate exists for either the government or any other party to strike a deal and run another referendum,” he wrote.

Mr Greene said that the Irish ‘No’ vote was a reflection of the views of millions of citizens across the EU member states who wanted to put the brakes on further political integration, which gives faceless bureaucrats more power at the expense of the ordinary voter. “The Irish people do not want the EU Constitution in yet another guise presented yet again in an imperious and bullying fashion. The sovereign people of Ireland, France and Holland have now rejected this document three times,” he said. “Instead”, wrote the Cóir spokesman, “the EU should be looking at a new direction for Europe; away from further political integration and towards democracy and subsidiarity. The transfer of power needs to take a bold and dramatic reversal – towards the people and away from Brussels.”

“The Irish vote is an opportunity for Mr Sarkozy and other EU leaders to address the concerns of millions of citizens right across the EU member states who feel excluded by the democratic deficit that has arisen at the heart of the European project,” he added.

Cóir said that Mr Sarkozy, should withdraw his “imperious and insulting” demand for a second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Richard Greene also described the decision to give ‘No’ campaigners three minutes to “explain themselves like naughty schoolboys before Mr Sarkozy” as “utterly farcical” and “akin to an emperor giving an audience to his serfs”. “The only message that Mr Sarkozy should hear is that he needs to respect the vote of the Irish people and accept that this treaty is dead,” he said.

[Sub-X]

EU Star Wars - Lisbon Treaty Battle for the Republic

[Sub-X]

Back off on vote: Cowen warns Sarkozy
Irish Independent
21 July 2008

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen will today bluntly tell Nicolas Sarkozy to stop interfering in Irish politics by pressing the Government to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Mr Cowen will warn the French president he is "swelling the ranks" of the 'No' campaign every time he intervenes. The message will be delivered at a key meeting in Government Buildings this afternoon, insiders revealed last night.

The Government's tough stance follows a week of disarray ahead of today's visit, which led to the threat of Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore snubbing the talks.

Last night, following frantic day-long negotiations, Mr Kenny agreed to attend a one-to-one meeting with Mr Sarkozy which will last for around 10 minutes in Government Buildings.

However, the Labour Party, which was said to be "happy with the progress made" with French officials, had not reached a final decision on Mr Gilmore's attendance.

Both parties yesterday held out on securing individual meetings within the French president's action-packed, four-hour schedule. European Minister Dick Roche said he fully appreciated the stance taken by Mr Gilmore on Friday in declining the original invite to speak for three minutes with some 15 other guests.

He said the past week's events had not been a "triumph for organisation" but it was now important to focus on today's opportunities.

"Frankly, if the arrangements had been made under my office, I would obviously have prepared for space to have been made for the opposition leaders to meet President Sarkozy in Government Buildings or in Leinster House.

"But the protocol arrangements are being made by the French officials," he told the Irish Independent.

Mr Roche further claimed the Government had made its position on the Lisbon Treaty fallout "very clear" and is now determined to understand the "extraordinary width of objections" to the Lisbon Treaty.

"Before we start putting together any sort of a formula to the decision that has been made, we must first have a deep reflective analysis of the decision itself. There is no point in putting together ideas from the top of our heads," he said.

Pledges

Despite previous pledges by Mr Sarkozy to find a solution, either in October or December, Mr Roche said the Irish Government would not be returning to the October European Summit with a "fully fleshed-out plan", because it will take considerable time to assess the 'No' vote.

He said October would be "far too early to be speaking about a solution".

A Government source last night said recent remarks by the French president on Ireland voting again had "not been helpful".

The Government was also keen to emphasise its role in trying to set up a meeting between President Sarkozy and the opposition leaders as such a proposition had originally been tabled by Irish officials weeks ago.

But a Government spokesman was keen not to be seen dictating to the French on how to organise the events.

"The Irish Government has created what we believe is a significant opportunity for the main opposition leaders to engage," the spokesman said.

Amid the frantic efforts to accommodate the opposition leaders and provide a media opportunity, the possibility of slightly extending the visiting time for Mr Sarkozy was still being examined last night.

[Sub-X]

Sarkozy agrees to meet with Kenny and Gilmore
Irish Examiner
21 July 2008

FRENCH president Nicolas Sarkozy moved to shore up the credibility of his lightning strike trip to Dublin last night by agreeing to one-on-one talks with opposition leaders.

A day of frantic telephone diplomacy saw Mr Sarkozy change his tight four-and-a-half-hour schedule to meet Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny after Labour’s Eamon Gilmore refused the offer of a three-minute contribution to a group forum at the French embassy.

Mr Gilmore was also expected to be offered a private face-to-face talk with the president at Government Buildings

Farmers seized the opportunity to ratchet up the pressure on Mr Sarkozy and Brian Cowen as the IFA warned support for a yes vote in any re-run referendum would be “wiped out” in rural areas if the EU is seen to cut a poor deal at World Trade Organisation talks in the next week.

Mr Gilmore said he was only interested in a “meaningful” meeting with the French president as he expressed disquiet about the lead-up to the visit, particularly Mr Sarkozy’s reported comments that Ireland would have to vote again.

“There is a degree of Asterix the Gaul visiting the provinces about that. A degree of interference, if you like, in the affairs of this country,” Mr Gilmore told RTÉ.

Mr Sarkozy insists he is coming to Dublin to help understand why Ireland voted no in June. The visit revolves around a working lunch with the Taoiseach.

Mr Sarkozy’s six-month presidency of the EU is threatening to become engulfed in dealing with Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon treaty and how the union can move forward after it.

Talks with the Taoiseach will be followed by the round table at the embassy, to be attended by campaigners for the no vote, including Patricia McKenna, Richard Boyd Barrett, Declan Ganley and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.

Supporters of Lisbon due to attend include former president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, IFA president Pádraig Walshe, IBEC director Turlough O’Sullivan and ICTU general secretary David Begg.

Europe Minister Dick Roche said people needed to have a realistic attitude to the visit.

[Sub-X]

Sarkozy heads to Dublin amid tension over EU treaty solution
http://euobserver.com/9/26517
21 July 2008

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to travel to Dublin to today to asses Ireland's options following its rejection of the EU treaty. He arrives confronting controversy over who he should meet and comments he has made on the country holding a second referendum.

Over the past week, Paris and Dublin have been tussling over who Mr Sarkozy should see during the scheduled four-hour meeting.
 
The Irish Times reports that Mr Sarkozy agreed to meet separately the leaders of the main opposition party, Fine Gael, and the Labour Party only after the direct intervention of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen.

Previously he was due to meet them along with a group of 15 other treaty campaigners, including Declan Ganley, the leader of the influential anti-treaty group Libertas, in the French embassy. Each will be given three minutes to make their case to the president.

Mr Sarkozy is also due to have lunch with Mr Cowen before they have a joint press conference and the president jets back to Paris.

The visit has provoked great tension on the Irish side. Mr Sakorzy, who is seen as unpredictable and too inclined to say exactly what is on his mind, has already infuriated Dublin by saying last week: "The Irish will have to vote again."

Ireland rejected the EU treaty on 12 June and Mr Cowen is fast becoming an isolated figure on the European stage as one by one, the remaining EU states ratify the document, with 23 of the 27 countries now having taken such a step.

Most analysts suggest that if the Lisbon Treaty is still to go into force - as Germany and France are pushing for - Ireland will have to have a second referendum. But Dublin has yet to say anything public on the issue, believing it is too soon to come with options.

Mr Sarkozy's words last week put Mr Cowen in a political tight spot, forcing several politicians to respond, saying Ireland would not be pushed into any particular course of action.

The Irish Independent reports that the prime minister is to tell the French president that he is "swelling the ranks" of the No side each time he intervenes.

The anger mirrors the feelings expressed when another French politician - foreign minister Bernard Kouchner - made an unwelcome intervention just ahead of the Irish referendum when he implied that Irish citizens would be considered ungrateful in the rest of Europe if they rejected the treaty.

The treaty was rejected by 53.4 percent against, with 46.6 percent in favour. The anti-treaty campaign touched on a wide range of issues including tax sovereignty, neutrality and democratic accountability.

The high turnout and the relatively wide margin between the Yes and the No votes have lessened Mr Cowen's room for manuoeuvre.

But Mr Sarkozy, who currently heads the EU, has made it clear that he is seeking to start putting shape to an exit strategy when EU leaders meet in October and have a solution wrapped up by the end of the year.

The Irish government, for its part, has repeatedly said that October is too early for a solution.

Ahead of the meeting, Sinn Fein, which campaigned against the treaty, said that "subtle threats" of Ireland's isolation within the union are "nonsense" adding that a "new treaty negotiation is the only way forward."

"For Sarkozy to tell Ireland to vote again is a shocking indictment of the anti-democratic attitude of some European leaders," said Mr Ganley, from Libertas.

Meanwhile, Eoin Ryan, a member of the European Parliament and government Fianna Fail party, noted that France has been an ally of Ireland in the past and particularly now during the ongoing world trade liberalisation talks, with Paris and Dublin both forming part of a more protectionist camp.

[dogmadestroyer]

Each of them will have three minutes to pitch to Sarkozy? Is someone going to be there with a stopwatch??

[Sub-X]

'Sarkozy still not getting message' - 'no' campaigners say
Irish Independent
21 July 2008

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was tonight accused of not getting the message that Ireland had rejected the controversial Lisbon Treaty.

Just days after he claimed Ireland must vote again, leading yes and no campaigners held talks with him at the French embassy in Ballsbridge.

Declan Ganley of anti-treaty group Libertas and Patricia McKenna of the People's Movement shrugged off the meeting as predictable and disappointing.

Mr Ganley said that while President Sarkozy was keen to listen to the arguments he was adamant that ratification by all other EU member states should continue.

``The most worrying thing about this meeting is the fact that clearly the message is not properly being heard, perhaps not even being heard at all. We have said no,'' Mr Ganley said.

``This process should continue, this wish to force through this agenda. There is just something fundamentally wrong and broken with that.''

Mr Ganley said Mr Sarkozy acknowledged in the meeting that if the Treaty was put to the French people they would most likely reject it.

But it is understood Mr Sarkozy stressed the French electorate voted for him on the basis that he would tied them through the difficulties created by their rejection of the European Constitution, the forerunner to Lisbon.

Ms McKenna, a former Green Party MEP, said Mr Sarkozy was merely going through the motions by holding the meeting, which was closed to the media.

``He wants to be able to go back to his own people and say I've consulted all sections of Irish society in relation to the Lisbon Treaty, but he is not getting the message,'' Ms McKenna said.

``It was very disappointing when he said that it's only extreme situations that you avoid a vote, in other words that Ireland has to vote again.''

Mr Sarkozy's brief visit to Ireland began with talks at Government Buildings with Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the main opposition parties before the meeting at the embassy.

Sinn Fein, the only Dáil party opposed to ratification, was represented at the talks by its President Gerry Adams.

[Sub-X]

Each of them will have three minutes to pitch to Sarkozy? Is someone going to be there with a stopwatch??

Speaking of which,this is what some people would say to Sarkozy if they had 3 minutes with him today


http://www.rte.ie/news/features/lisbontreaty/sarkozycomments.html

Name: pat donnelly
Location: limerick
ignore the Irish vote...we are just stupid.

Name: Frank Steward
Location: Dublin
Well done Mr. Sarkozy, as I don't agree particularly with the comments made I do however think that Ireland needs to hold a second referendum. The last vote was a protest vote against the government and this needs to be rectified. Issues like this should not be put to the public vote as most of the public do not comprehend such large documents and are easily mislead by panic merchants. That's why we vote for a government, entrusting them to make the right decisions for us. Frank

Name: Stephen Laffan
Location: Laois
The wishes of the majority of the peoples in Europe must be listened to and the fact that governments are ratifying this treaty is not an indication of the acceptance of this treaty by the people. The EU would be better served by a tight raft of policies of economic, environmental and legal issues than a forced marriage of multiple philosophies and cultures.

Name: Hugh
Location: Galway
I apologise for the ignorance and apathy of the Irish people. Don't give up hope on Ireland, almost half the people voted 'yes' and a lot of the other half just didn't understand the issues, and were lied to by the 'no' camp.

Name: Ellen Paterson
Location: London - Irish born
I would say 'Nicolas, remember 1789 and the motto of the French Revolution - Liberte, Fraternite, Egalite. The citizens of Eire in 2008 have a right to vote as they wish and do not want to be dictated to by a foreign Power. 'Non' means 'No' in any language. If you want a second opinion ask your friend, Gordon Brown, to allow a referendum in the UK. There will equally be a resounding NON from a lot more people. Bon voyage.'

Name: Rita Crampton
Location: Dublin
Mr Sarkozy, Stop playing 'grown-up' games like a good boy and go back to playing with your new toy - oops, I mean wife! RG Crampton

Name: Padraig Murphy
Location: Dublin, South Side
Can I please go back to Paris with you? Things have gone belly up here and I don't want to be the last to leave town. giss a Job!!!

Name: Brian Flanagan
Location: Blackrock, Dublin
We'll have another referendum if France also has another one!

Name: Mary
Location: Limerick
Are we to assume that Mugabe's vision of 'democracy' is to be thrust upon us by Mr. Sarkozy? The people vote, Mr. Sarkozy doesn't appreciate the result, so we are to vote again to obtain the Sarkozy result. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity? Only applicable when the result is the desired one evidentially. The only plausible result now is a Sarkozy own goal.

Name: Cooney, Patrick
Location: Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
Please do not treat us as you treated your own subjects - especially your unions when you met them and then did not listen to them. We are a sovereign state and intelligent people and your intervention will not help me in voting again.

Name: Elizabeth O'Doherty
Location: South Dublin
I'm glad Mr. Sarkozy has revised his visiting arrangements and is showing due respect to the relevant political figures in order of importance. It would be worth his while to investigate who is backing Mr. Ganley of Libertas. Also, he should read the following article in The Irish Independent (18th July) by James Downey: 'Defence is key issue surrounding the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty'. Good luck today...

Name: Gerry Mc Quillan
Location: Donegal
The Irish NO vote was not against Lisbon. It was a vote against our 'established' politicians and their recent performance and conduct.

Name: John Reilly
Location: Dublin
NO means NO. What part of that does President Sarkozy and the rest of Europe's YES side not understand. The people have spoken and we should not be beating into submission. Would we have a second vote if it was YES first time around??

Name: Tom
Location: Athlone
Cead mile failte to Waterloo.

Location: Cork City
Name: Paul Lee
How do you propose to communicate with the Irish electorate (properly this time) regarding a vote on the future of Europe as the recent effort by the Irish Government was non-existent? Do you understand why the Irish voted No to Lisbon? Will the EU re-think Lisbon altogether?

Name: Gary Ryan
Location: Kildare
It won't take three minutes. Please refrain from interfering in our affairs. There is plenty to be down in France - do that instead.

Name: Michael Lewis
Location: Cork
If you had any respect for the position you hold you would resign. You are an embarrassment to your country. I have no doubt that if all of the thousands of Irish men that gave their lives that your country might be free believed that you would be its leader then they would think again. We have to learn from history and it appears you are incapable of learning, period.

Name: John Steele
Location: Dublin
Mr Sarkozy & his French Bureaucrats would do well to remember 1. Their bully tactics & scare mongering [effectively Ireland would be out in the cold if we rejected the Lisbon Treaty] won't work here anymore. and 2. Mr Sarkozy & his French bureaucrats would do well to remember where France would be today if it wasn't for the Allies during world war 2 in which many thousands of Irish man fought on behalf of Britain, and died, they next time they allude to Ireland having got lots of money from the EU

Name: Anne
Location: Paris France
President Sarkozy Congratulations on the excellent job you are doing in France since your election last year. I agree that Ireland should be asked to vote again for the Lisbon Treaty. I read some of the comments from the voters as they left the polling booths; it was quite clear that a majority of them didn't understand the Lisbon Treaty and therefore decided to vote against it. Bon Courage et Bonne Continuation Mr Sarkozy

Name: John
Location: Dublin
I am very much a pro European Irishman, however I do feel that there is an image of a lack of democracy at the heart of Europe. I think this could be countered by a directly elected European President. Let the council select 3 candidates and let them travel around Europe 'selling' their vision for Europe to the people, people could then choose which vision to follow

Name: Maurice Cunningham
Location: Swords, Dublin
Forcing a yes vote on the Irish people is not the way to do business in our country and having voted No to the Treaty I want you to convince me why I should have voted Yes to a Treaty that as of yet has not been explained in simple English for every man and woman in this country to understand? I generally dont vote for something if I dont understand it, maybe in France things work differently, do they??

Name: Gerry
Location: Belfast
Does Mr Sarkozy think if the Fench had voted yes on the initial treaty, we wouldn't have this problem today?

Name: ann
Location: dublin
I voted No in the Lisbon treaty as a vote of protest. I do not trust Fianna Fail and for that reason did not believe any of the benefits being put forward by them. How could any trustworthy party support Bertie Ahearn as leader of this country over the past twelve months. We are a small island economy, we need less self serving politicians, a smaller more efficient government with vision and integrity. I trust Brian Cowen but not all of Fianna Fail. If this is addressed I will vote Yes next time!

Name: Sen
Location: Galway but currently in England
Welcome to Ireland. I am a great admirer of your country, which has given so much to Europe. I would ask that you consider seriously why it was that the Irish people voted 'NO' to the EU constitution. Indeed, it is not so long ago that your country did the same. I hope that you do not rush into urging the Irish government, representing a sovereign state, to hold another vote so soon after the EU constitution being decisively rejected by the sovereign people of Ireland.

Name: John
Location: Navan
I wouldn't talk to him. I'd play him 'No Limits' by 2 Unlimited. It has the chorus 'no no, no no no no, no no no no, no no.'

Name: Aidan Moore
Location: Melbourne
I'd ask him if, like Napoleon, he'd brought with him a team of scientists charged with compiling a Description de l'Irelande, since in going to Ireland to second guess that country's democratic processes, Sarkozy is treating the Irish with the same contempt that Napoleon treated the Egyptians.

Name: Patrick Boshell
Location: Dublin
Would your time as President of France not be better spent listening to what Europeans really want instead of trying to force a dead and defunct treaty upon them?

Name: Karl
Location: Dublin
The Irish voted NO because we were given a little extra power than our European neighbours and, without making an attempt to even understand the treaty, decided to exercise that power by using it as a protest vote against the government. A whole country biting its nose off in an act of childish folly!

Name: Bobby
Location: Northwest
Ireland has already said no

Name: Jack O' Rourke
Location: Dublin
Dear Mr Sarkozy Your comments on the Lisbon treaty and Irelands position, post the referendum were poorly timed and frankly unwelcome. It is sheer arrogance to purport to tell another country what it should or should not do. As regards any future treaties, there needs to be clarification that there will be no tax harmonisation and further insurance needs to be given to Ireland's position as regards neutrality?

Name: Padraig O Gallachoir
Location: padraig.ogallachoir@gmail.com
As President of Europe and also President of the French nation, We proud Europeans expect you to bring the best qualities of that nation to your Presidency of the European Union. Therefore only three words are required: Libert, Egalit, Fraternit.

Name: Sean Jacques LION
Location: l
The Irishmen have given a lesson to the rest of Europe and their vote must be to respect it must leave in Ireland an exclusive statute - guarantee with prohibition with the abortion - a broader economic and social national control - neutrality and taxes. Ireland had the choice to say yes or no. one must conform to it and to with it be held without ambiguity. And Mr Sarkozy, the Irish people do not intend to let to us intimidate by anyone, only we would be in position of listening.

Name: Seamus
Location: Wicklow
I would tell him to go home and stop trying to bully the Irish as well as the rest of Europe into something which they have already voted against! We are supposed to be in a democratic union, this whole Lisbon fiasco does not seem to me to be very democratic! Do the European elite understand what the word DEMOCRACY means?

Name: Sean Jacques LION
Location: Lisses - Fhrainc
It is important that president Sarkozy understands that the Irish people require that its vote be respected and more important still, that its concerns are taken into account. the declarations of the French president shows that he becomes the French person more hates in Ireland in very little time. In the ridiculous one, I think that my dear Sarko is stronger than Bush, he missed his vocation, it is not policy that he should have made but cinema and more precisely in the comic one

Name: john o'neill
Location: france
What part of no dose he not understand.

Name: James
Location: Kerry
Don't listen to the arrogance of the No's. We were misled by xenophobic nationalists all the way down the line. Glad to see the rest of the EU is ratifying the Treaty. Just leave the Paddys behind to sort themselves out.

Name: Paul F
Location: Dundrum
When are you leaving?

Name:
Location:
How can the constitution, complete document unto itself, be series of amendments to past treaties? I agree the size of the EC must be reduced, but no commissioner should represent their country. President of EC must be elected by people of Europe. EP must have complete co decision with council & its number should be capped at about 951. The court must be reduced in number, but not at the expense of any country. Perhaps, for 3 years 14 judges can sit on ECJ & 13 on 1st instance court then switch

Name: Pat Kavanagh
Location: Wicklow
What's more, Ireland has voted NO. Our vote is democratic and should be respected by our own Govt and by Europe. If we are asked to vote again 'UNTIL WE GET IT RIGHT' by ANY of our politicians, I will NOT vote for them again.

Name: Pat Kavanagh
Location: Wicklow
I do not want Ireland to lose its seat at the table. Too much can happen within 5 years. There should be 27 at the table, not 15. We do not need to promote Nuclear development in this country. I am opposed to Nuclear power.

Name: Pat Kavanagh
Location: Wicklow
European courts would be able to over-rule the Irish constitution. The declaration of Independence is a major part of our history, as are those heroes who drew up our constitution. It is precious to us, it gives us a voice. We are the only European country who has a voice to vote on this referendum. This would be the last time we would ever have a vote on European issues.

Name: Pat Kavanagh
Location: Wicklow
I am opposed to investment in a European Super Military power. I do not want the Irish military to change from being a peace-keeping force to being a 'peace enforcement'. I do not want to compromise Ireland's neutrality. We have all seen what has happened in USA where 75% of the population do not want the armed forces in Iraq, yet they have no say. All we need is for Europe to have a German 'George Bush' and we will be in that same position. Germany will have too much power.

Name: Sean
Location: Dublin
Do you think France has still the power and role to have such an important place in the European Union and the world?

Name: Tim
Location: Dublin
Monsieur Sarkozy, Please hop it back to France, you're giving us Pro-Europeans a really bad name. The idea that you can come over to another sovereign state and tell us how to vote is an enormous embarrassment to all of us who backed Lisbon. Might I suggest that you get back home and spend your time on sorting out France's huge national debt, budget deficit and unemployment? Good fences make great neighbours, so how about repairing yours?

Name: craig o connor
Location: 3rd density
The reptilian rule of this planet is about to end the darkness will be overcome.11,ooo years of hurt is enough. tell George and the boys to run while you because the sleeping giant is waking up, the sleeping giant is all of us p.s if whoever reads this does not understand what im talking about the it is already to late for you

Name: Lisa
Location: Dublin North
Ireland said no, get over it and get on with it. Was on holiday recently in Canary Islands and met people from Norway, Sweden, France and Amsterdam, all of them said they were delighted we voted no. Lots of Europeans were not given the opportunity to vote and have their voice heard. It would appear that they would have voted no also.

Name: Gary o Brien
Location: Waterford
The reason I voted No Mr. Sarkozy was because of the high influx of immigration as we have taken the most immigration per head! And if I had voted yes it would mean more countries joining the EU and that means more immigration and more job losses for Irish citizens! Thank you for ur time Nicolas Sarkozy.

Name: Martin Doyle
Location:
President Sarkozy's attitude to Ireland proves the case of the NO vote - He wants to ride roughshod over the genuine fears of a small country. Could he sell this treaty to the people of France? As we are finally coming to the end of the disastrous reign of George Bush II, we don't need a George Bush III attitude from France.......

Name: Truth Voice 2012
Location: Limerick
Firstly Mr Sarkozy. The New World Order will fail. Trying to combine Europe and militarising it for the up and coming war with Iran will not happen. The Irish people along with the rest of the common people of Europe want nothing to do with World War Three. You and the rest of the political elite, the bilderbergs and the illuminati occult will be exposed and held accountable for your actions. We are not your slaves and the military-industrial complex will not make a cent from my death. Go home!

Name: Hugh Kavanagh
Location: Cork
The 'no' result has made me embarrassed for my country and has made me lose faith in the intelligence of the Irish people

Name: Richard
Location: cork
mind your own sarkozy. We got our own bread.

Name: John Lannin
Location: West Cork
Many do not want a federal Europe, our country signed away control of our own affairs to Britain in 1800, we are not about to repeat the mistake. Economic Union, Yes. Political Union, No

Name: Barbara Ryan
Location: Limerick
What ever you think about our no vote you have to respect it and if you try to force us to re-vote you will get a resounding no. We Irish won't be bullied by anyone.

Name: Linda Collins
Location: Limerick
The Irish are wise to you and your plans and you will not succeed. We voted NO and we will continue to vote NO, no matter how much you try to bully! The European Union is still democratic even if it doesn't suit your plans. Enjoy your trip to Ireland, Mr. Sarkozy but don't expect a warm welcome from everybody.

Name: Siobhain
Location: Dublin
I would tell him, yes Ireland should have a second vote, and we should vote YES, and we probably would of. Although now that he had interfered, I predict Ireland will vote NO just to prove another point. If he looked at our history, he would see Ireland do not take friendly to foreign instruction.

Name: Steven
Location: Cork
French President Nicolas Sarkozy recent comments about Ireland having to vote again on Lisbon could turn myself and others from Pro-EU Lisbon No Voters to a Anti-Eu Lisbon No Voters. This of course would mean in future we would vote no against everything, as in the past a lot of our votes have been yes to the EU.

Name: Ciaran Kiely
Location: Dublin
Can you not accept no as an answer?

Name: Ailbhe Barrett
Location: Limerick
I would just like to voice my concerns at the direction the EU is taking. I voted no because I do not believe further integration is necessary for the progress of the EU. Co-operation between nations would work just as well, & would, crucially, have the backing of citizens. The Lisbon treaty does not equal the EU; it is completely undemocratic & the wrong direction for Europe altogether.

Name: Dave
Location: Lucan
Mr. Sarkozy, go back to France and recognize the democratic decision of the Irish, French and Dutch people. We don't want Your Europe, you and your elitist buddies have no mandate from the people. We refuse to live in a post-democratic era, dictated to by a handful of elitist control freaks.

Name: Martin Schranz
Location: Cavan
Why are you not intervening to stop the cruel maltreatment of African illegal immigrants by the government of Malta?

Name: Simon Carey
Location: Carlow
I voted NO because I believe this is the first step towards a Federal Europe. If we are made to VOTE AGAIN, I will, even if we get concessions, vote NO again. Expecting the Irish people to vote again undermines democracy and demonstrates how Ireland is being bullied. The people are not being listened too! The mere fact we are the only country to vote demonstrates an inherent lack of democracy and furthermore, the rules do stipulate that all countries must ratify!!!!!

Name: Marlene Fitzpatrick
Location: Dublin
Although Pres. Sarkozy is president of the E.U. for the next six months, he has no right to presume how the Irish people think. Bullying them into voting 'yes' is not the way to deal with us. Explanations of the questions raised with the 'no' vote, is a better option. He should look closer to home and ask why the French voted no in the first place, only to be overruled by their government. Hopefully this is not the way it will be dealt with here. By the way I voted 'yes' and feel we owe the E.u loyal

Name: Mairead Chaplin
Location: Co Clare, Ireland
No to Voting again... How can we vote on a Flawed Treaty, It has to be amended and has to Transparent? I am all for being European but I'm Irish first and Proud to be. To ask me to vote again is an insult to my intelligence.

Name: John Fitzpatrick
Location: Dublin 7
It's reported that Ireland has received 60 Billion in EU funding. Could Mr Sarkozy give an itemised account of where this money has gone, because I can not see any evidence of it in Dublin?

Name: Brian Grace
Location: Galway
I thought we already decided this issue. Why don't we discuss the French general election instead!

Name: John O Neill
Location: Dublin
Mr Sarkozy. As a Frenchman you more than most should realise that our nation will not be bullied. Given that the people have spoken and they have overwhelmingly said no democracy should be respected. It is precisely your arrogant attitude dictating to us that lead people to say no. We will not be dictated to by an unelected representative like yourself or anyone else. The Maastricht, Nice and especially Lisbon treaty are doing what Hitler's army tried to do 60 years ago.

Name: THOMAS PETER LEAVEY
Location: MINNEAPOLIS MN USA
FOR WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; I am in complete support of the LISBON TREATY and also Ireland has benefited big time in receiving E.U Economic supportiveness. Now that the time has come for Irelands' general Public and Public Policy types all the sudden want to be received for there duties for a further strengthening of the E.U Governance Administrative responsibilities the Irish wish to duck out from under the leadership role. If were The French President I would simply offer Ireland a choss sign on quit?

Name: Diarmuid
Location: Dublin
You're very welcome to Ireland Mr. Sarkozy and we understand that as president of the EU that you are expected to lobby a yes vote. Thank you but we have already decided democratically how we would like to see the EU proceed and your opinion of how we should conduct our internal affairs is really of no great interest to us.

Name: Diarmuid Harrington
Location: Caux, Magnac Bourg 87380
Czar Nick. Make up your mind which part of 'NO'! do you not understand? I suppose if the French had a chance to re vote you could be out on your ear selling boot leg copies of Carla's latest hit. I love the French. Making love is easy, Rock and Roll is cushy, But Democracy is hard work. So don't pull a G. W. Bush on us. We have a United Europe thanks to Germany. You have your six months so don't screw it up. Sincerely, Diarmuid Harrington

Name: Thomas Earlie, former Sec.Gen. FF/Gaullist Group in European Parliament
Location: Private Clinic
President Sarkozy has to address three issues:1.Irish Concern that enlargement of EU has brought a reduction of Irish Political&Legislative sovereignty in the European Union decision making process 2.He must tell the Irish that they must stop blaming Brussels for all their problems;Neutrality,Social exclusion, menopausal problems, bad weather, poor quality of lifebelt. 3. He must tell the colleagues in Brussels that they have to stop hiding behind the bureaucracy and show their faces and listen! Vive

Name: BARRY O NEILL
Location: co cork
donc c'est pas mal pour le franais pour dire 'Non' au trait de Lisbonne, mais pas l'irlandais. (et aucun vote democratique, je comprends) .i sera ouvert de vous et j'aime la France et le franais, mais nous sommes fermes et nos inquitudes doivent sincrement tre rencontres

Name: rd
Location: Dublin 15
I said no on the basis that sufficient explanation was not available, despite efforts to find out as much as I could. Politicians seemed to think we should trust them and therefore vote yes. Experience with our politicians invariably engenders mistrust, not the opposite. I want a good reason to vote yes.

Name: Ren Aungier
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
You and your government's attitude and the lack of respect towards the democratic rights of the Irish people will ensure that the treaty will NEVER be accepted. You have also re-enforced people's negative attitude the EU. People in greenhouse should not throw stones. Let your own people vote or are you afraid they will vote no? Are you afraid of the democratic process? I believe you are & you are a real hypocrite.

Name: Ren Aungier
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
The Treaty is completely out of sync with the aspirations of the people of Europe. It removes the power of the people to decide and hands that power to beaurocrats in Brussels who have failed to show they understand the people. Until the beaurocrats become servants of the people and not dictators, Europeans will resist. Arrogance is detestable.

Name: Martina Ni Fhatharta
Location: Galway
Europe should be about European citizens and not about politics. If there are no changes to the treaty and it goes to poll - there will be an angry reaction. I think the main reason people voted no - because the Lisbon treaty was hard to understand. Respect the Irish vote and come up with a better solution.

Name: Ren Aungier
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Ireland's economic success came about as a result of Sean Lemass's government having the hindsight to introduce free education and invite foreign companies to establish themselves in Ireland. Irish people do not want to be dominated by bureaucrats from Brussels. Ireland has voted. Maybe you need to look at the treaty and see what is wrong with it.

Name: Roz
Location: Waterford
Remember that we are a democracy, why should we vote again because we did not give you the answer you wanted. Does our vote mean nothing? Stop the scaremongering we are allowed the freedom of thought, it'd be great if Sarkozy and the rest of Europe respected that we are a Republic first and foremost, and I pity those within Europe who have not had the opportunity to vote, the people they have placed in power are obviously doing them an injustice. And I hope Biffo grows himself some balls today!

Name: P.Green
Location: wexford
Have a national vote on the following lines: Does Ireland want to stay in the EU with the Lisbon treaty YES/NO

Name: Mary
Location: Dublin
How dare you come to Ireland, a country that fought long and hard for independence and try to tell us how to run our affairs, you didn't deem it necessary to hold a second referendum in France when your own people rejected the same treaty because you knew the result would have been the same. Our government may bow down before you but the citizens they should represent, do not and they no longer speak for us

Name: Armstrong
Location: UK
We fought and died for our independence and are now a proud nation we intend to stay that way so please go home and do not interfere.

Name: John James
Location: Cavan
When the French People rejected the Constitution of Europe did the French vote again. We don't want a Federal State of Europe we just want open borders fair trading between countries with no opt out clauses allowed for any state. Europe is not ready for one United State yet. When the time comes let the different countries vote on this not ratified by governments.

Name: Barry Burke
Location: Dublin
Mr Sarkozy, I believe your visit epitomises how we the 'ground route' Irish have come to depict the European Parliament; as a non democratic, money gussling machine which gives refuge to dysfunctional politicians. It is probably time to call a halt to the entire process of a European Union and Dream on a One World Union which is not corrupted by politics yours Barry

Name: R Toland
Location: Dublin
Why does the French President feel he has the right to bully the Irish electorate? We have said no to Lisbon which is a new name for The EU constitution. His own country men & woman said no to the constitution. So, why did he fear making them & the Dutch vote a second time We Irish said no in a democratic referendum. Does the President of France feel he has the right to interfere in the internal matters of the Irish republic?

Name: Dr Roy H W Johnston
Location: Dublin 6 / rjtechne@iol.ie
A referendum is not the best way to handle a complex issue. It was presented as a complex clause with references to other documents. Amendments should be clear. It is questionable whether a referendum was necessary; this should be referred to the Supreme Court. There was undue influence by an agency supported by US-related interests; there is no legislation to prevent this; there should be. The case for a Yes vote was not made convincingly by the politicians. We need an EU independent of NATO.

Name: Jason Cambridge
Location: Cork
I would ask Mr Sarkozy to respect the democratic Process. When the people say No the mean NO! Mr Sarkozy, and the government of Brussels would want to look that word up in a dictionary.

Name: Liam Barry
Location: Kildare
Sarkozy should stop messing with rights of the Irish voters and accept what has happened, no second vote on this failed treaty

Name: Samuel Joseph Butler
Location: Donegal
In part my NO vote was influenced by my lack of trust in a government that idly allows their own people to die on hospital waiting lists. How could anyone trust these people?

Name: noel o connell
Location: cork city
No means no

Name: Dean Monks
Location: Frankfurt but from Dublin
Can you please tell President Sarkozy, that he should not be forcing the Irish people to bend to the will of another nation? We are a free independent country and should be allowed to exercise these rights.

Name: Mary Long
Location: France
J'ai oubli, M Sarkozy, vous ne parlez pas l'anglais. Alors, Dmissionnez! Assez de l'tat rpressif, ce n'est pas parce que les franais ne vous aiment pas que vous serez mieux reu ailleurs. Allez vivre sur une le dserte avec Carla et laissez nous en paix. Nous ne voulons pas l'entendre elle non plus--surtout en chantant!

Name: Mary Long
Location: France
Resign and give the French public another chance to choose a president! And definitely quit wearing the nine-inch high-heels. Move to some remote island with Carla. We don't want to see or hear from her either. Thank you, Ireland, for putting him in his place.

Name: Tracey
Location: Dublin
To President Nicolas Sarkozy, WE THE IRISH PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MADE OUR VOICE CLEAR to the Lisbon Treaty. WE VOTED NO. If you gave your people a chance to Vote again they would vote NO also. Now back off.

Name: Eoin Delaney
Location: Lucan, Co Dublin
Mr Sarkozy, if you want the Irish to have a second vote, please provide the same opportunity for your own people. (and this time tell your foreign minister to keep his mouth shut during the process) (PS, I voted yes)

Name: Eilin Nic Fhloinn
Location: Galway
The Irish people have rejected the Lisbon Treaty. For the treaty to be implemented it needs unanimity. We go forward as things stand at the moment, -nith Nice. Please stop trying to pressure Ireland into accepting something which is clearly unacceptable to the people.

Name: Derek
Location: Dublin
He is acting like he is permanently the EU President and not only there for 6 months. If Ireland wanted to be part of a Dictatorship we would have joined with North Korea. He seems to forget that his own people rejected the Lisbon Treaty and if the EU was a free state all it citizens (300 million +) should be allowed to vote.

Name: Kevin Murphy
Location: Louth
Mr. Sarkozy, the people of Ireland have expressed their opinion with a No vote. We feel that this Lisbon Treaty does not benefit the country at this moment in time and you should respect that and not try and force it down our throats.

Name: Rnan McAteer
Location: Dublin
Mr Sarkozy, forcing people re-vote on the Lisbon Treaty would be contrary to the ideals of democracy. Please accept the peoples' decision and use your EU Presidency to find a more progressive solution to EU unity. Welcome the Irish vote as an opportunity to discover exactly what European citizens want from the EU. If treated with respect, the Irish people will be ardent supporters of this community. Yours sincerely, Ronan McAteer An EU citizen

Name: Gerry Harte
Location: County Monaghan
President Sarkozy should engage his brain before his mouth as he has done more for the No campaign team than they ever could have hoped to achieve themselves by alienating the Irish voters. He is a bully and does not give two damns for the will of the Irish people. God help us if he is the best that they could come up with.

Name: Chazzer
Location: Rathmines
How's it goin'? Any Craic?

Name: Tracey Carroll
Location: Dublin
The Lisbon Treaty is a joke, not the idea of a treaty but the fact the no one has so far stood up and explained to the people of Europe what the changes and effects of this will be. or why there are so many huge issues not covered individually. the true meaning and implications are hidden in the confounding legal the treaty should be made in to normal language and the changes and effects be detailed and discussed and must be open to change where the clash with our own policies.

Name: Phil McGibney Jnr.
Location: Dublin
Coming from a country which tolerates truck drivers and farmers causing mayhem summer after summer with one protest after another. Surely you have not come here to 'tell' the Irish people how to vote? The Irish people have spoken as is there right to in a democracy. Take it on board and let us all move forward.

Name: Carol Vaudrion
Location: Celbridge, Co. Kildare
I am married to a French National and voted YES to Lisbon. We are, however, appalled at the arrogant attitude of Mr. Sarkozy towards the Irish people. He shows a total lack of respect for the democratic vote in Europe and I ask if the elections in France were to go against him would he ask his citizens to vote again? His comments and actions could be responsible for Ireland NEVER ratifying this treaty. He has shown distain to us as a people and to our politicians.

Name: Jonathan Dickson
Location: Co. Carlow.
NO, ca veut dire NON. We voted NO in democratic elections, after having considered the issues. By the eu's own rules the constitreaty is DEAD! Get over it, it is your problem, not Ireland's. Until you drop your fiercely anti-democratic stance, please go away, and quickly. JD.

Name: Martin Power
Location: Limerick
I would say the Lisbon Treaty is dead. Deal with that FACT!!! Telling the Irish to vote again is an insult and really makes a mockery of the claims the Yes side made about the Lisbon Treaty being about taking the EU more democratic. Where is the democracy in refusing to accept the vote of the Irish People?? Is it a democracy that's democratic as long as we vote the way we are told to by the likes of Sarkozy? No chance of that happening. Dream on Nicolas

Name: Damien Ryan
Location: Cork
We said no that's final. Having ANOTHER vote on this is pointless. Accept our vote and move on. NO MEANS NO AND THAT'S FINAL!

Name: Simon
Location: Dublin
I would say he is correct. If Ireland had the political clout of France and it saw a tiny turnout in a referendum throwing a reform process off track we too would be making noises about it. We Irish need to learn how to work with the system for our benefit rather than making trouble for everyone!

Name: Trasa Levine.
Location: California
So proud of the Irish people who recognized they were being pushed into a decision that would rob them of their freedom. Unfortunately other EU members did not get that choice. I am horrified to see the Irish Government members are trying to twist the peoples' arm. Well they are the FAT CATS anyway and it would never affect them or their families. Imagine the 'GAUL'of Pres. Sarkozy going to Ireland to try change their minds... It would serve his purpose too. Give Democracy a change.

Name: Marie Cullen
Location: Los Angeles, California
I think the Irish people are very aware of the choice they made regarding the Lisbon Treaty. Why would the President of another country try to persuade them to do otherwise? Did they not have a Vote? Do you not trust their judgement? They know if it does go through that Brussels will then have a FREE Hand to make any Rules they want without the approval of other countries. The Irish people know what that feels like. It is rumoured that the other Members of EU did not get the chance to vote.

Name: David Hayes
Location: Dublin
Butt out Nicolas. It's supposed to be a democracy. You run your country whatever way you want and don't tell us how to run ours, thanks.

Name: pat Courtney
Location: cork city
I voted yes but if there's a second referendum I be voting NO, democracy MY ARSE, I was half informed on the last vote now I'm fully up to date on it. Modern day Nazism with out the killing just raping a country. So as you leave please take the Euro with you cos we would like our punt back.

Name: Catherine Cunningham
Location: Roscommon
The EU will not succeed because of Lisbon; but it will definitely fail from the anger and alienation of its citizens. Your attitude and leadership style has convinced me that my YES vote was wrong. More power cannot be granted to an organisation which treats its smaller members with such contempt as you have shown for Ireland. Your relationship with George Bush shows you are like him and should not be in a position of power in Europe. Your elitist posture has damaged the EU.

Name: michael geoghegan
Location: jegub, france, but irish
Chere Presidente Sarkozy, Chez nous c'est le public qui vote...et on a dit non!!! Cest n'est pas au cause d'avoir profiter du Europe comm il a dit Mr Kuchner.... car de toute facon tout des pays va perdre des benifice..... Alorhs j'espair que vous comprendre le probleme apres votre visite chez nous....et je serai ravi de discuter au fond cette probleme en etant un Irlandais en France. Michael Geoghegan

Name: Mario Danneels
Location: Galway
Dear Mr President, We will probably agree to and vote yes in a second referendum if you will let your wife fill the proposed post of President of the EU. Is mise, le meas, Mario Danneels

[Sub-X]

Non C'est Non: Sarkozy's Irish visit met with protests
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88423
21 July 2008

Anti Globalisation protestors took to Government buildings to highlight the WTO impact on Irish farming, workers and human rights and fisheries. Each group was divided and coralled into three different sections in a state move to institutionalise supposed differences in those who articulated a NON in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

He came, he saw, kissed Cowen and left after a whirlwind 5 hour tour.

The IFA, Caeuc with it's may affiliated organisations and Fisheries groups came out in force today to Merrion Square to help Sarkozy understand the meaning of Non.
For those who weren't there a taste of events.

[Sub-X]

Sarkozy has his mind made up – time for Brian Cowen to represent his people not EU leaders, says McKenna
http://www.people.ie/press/080721b.pdf
21 July 2008

Following today’s meeting with the French president Nicolas Sarkozy,the former Green Party MEP and chairperson of the People’s Movement,Patricia McKenna,said:“It is clear from today’s meeting that President Sarkozy has his mind made up regarding the Lisbon
Treaty and the need for Ireland to vote again.When those on the No side stated at today’s meeting that the treaty was dead and we the Irish people could not be asked to vote again,the French president’s response was“There is nothing extraordinary about saying you should vote again – you did it with Nice and Danes did it also”.

Ms McKenna said today’s meeting gave us a clear insight into the state of denial that exists within the minds of the EU political elite: “I found it quite astounding that President Sarkozy, who has openly admitted he will not allow his own people a vote on Lisbon because they would vote against, argued in defence of a second Irish vote that ‘It is only in extreme situations that you avoid votes’. That is some statement from a man who is afraid to consult his own people. Clearly he considers the French situation an ‘extreme situation’.”

“It is time for our Taoiseach Brian Cowen to instil a sense of reality into the minds of EU leaders. He must go and tell them that the decision of the Irish people is final and has to be respected, that he will not be dictated to by politician who are afraid to consult with their own people. Brian Cowen is elected to represent the views of the Irish people not the views of EU leaders. So far he has failed in his duty and today’s French embassy debacle is a direct consequences of this failure.” McKenna concluded.

[Sub-X]

Sarkozy in retreat over demand for fresh vote
Irish Independent
22 July 2008

FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday significantly backed off on his demand for a second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Mr Sarkozy toned down his rhetoric as he embarked on a charm offensive, targeting both 'Yes' and 'No' campaigners during his flying visit to Dublin.

However, he again emphasised the importance of arriving at some sort of solution before next year's European elections.

Softening his hardline stance, Mr Sarkozy said he did not "want to push you into anything".

He also indicated he was willing to get additional assurances for Ireland on the contentious issues of tax, abortion and neutrality. The president privately told campaigners the Lisbon Treaty crisis will not be solved during the French presidency of the EU.

He is looking to devise a "formula" to overcome the Irish 'No' vote, but does not expect the issue to be resolved before he is replaced as president of the EU in December.

Mr Sarkozy defended his trip to Ireland and his recent comments about the need to hold a second Irish referendum on Lisbon, which infuriated Taoiseach Brian Cowen and groups on both sides of the debate.

"What was expected of the European President, that I should stand by listless?" he said.

"To come to Ireland to meddle, not to come would be indifference. What would you the Irish press rather? Meddling or indifference?" he added.

But Mr Sarkozy also reiterated there was no 'magic' solution to the problem facing Ireland.

"We don't have a magical solution that can be imposed by the way of a magic wand," he said.

He sternly denied he had said there must be a second referendum.

"I never said there had to be a referendum. I didn't say on what question there would be a vote and I did not in any way meddle in Irish domestic affairs.

"There is no reason to be angry when saying to people that on a given question, which is yet to be determined and within a given timeframe, you will have to be consulted."

Isolation

Mr Sarkozy said he understood the Irish situation, as the French found themselves "in isolation".

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Ireland needed patience and understanding from our partners over the coming months as the Government completes its consultation process.

"I will fight to make sure we move ahead as a family if 27 and nobody is left behind," he said.

Government officials were relieved with the way the visit had gone as Mr Sarkozy had not inflamed the situation further.

Mr Sarkozy was also thought to have understood the anger he caused by his comments last week over a second vote.

"We're very happy, and we're happy he listened," a government source said.

[Sub-X]

Sarkozy suggests Irish revote in June 2009
http://euobserver.com/9/26522/?rk=1
22 July 2008

French President Nicholas Sarkozy has proposed to the Irish prime minister that a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty be held on the same day as elections to the European Parliament next June.

Mr Sarkozy made the suggestion during a private discussion with Prime Minister, or Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, according to reports in the Irish Times, during a six-hour whistle-stop trip to Dublin to meet with government leaders and campaigners from both sides of the treaty battle.

At the same time, publicly, the French president denied that he had said Ireland must vote again.

"I never said that Ireland had to organise a new referendum. I said that at some stage or another the Irish had to be given the opportunity to give their opinion."

Last week, he told a private session with deputies from his UMP party in Paris that Ireland would have to hold a second referendum, according to an attendee of the meeting.

However, in Dublin the president said he accepted that there could be no resolution to the issue under his country's six-month presidency of the European Union, due to end in December.

"We don't want to push you into anything," said Mr Sarkozy at a joint press conference with Mr Cowen.

The Irish newspaper also reports that Mr Cowen underscored that his government was prepared only to offer a "preliminary report" to his fellow EU leaders when they meet at October's European Summit, and not a conclusive document detailing a way out of the impasse.

The French president's strategy for holding a second poll would be unveiled at the December summit in Brussels, and would involve a guarantee of a commissioner for every member state alongside non-legally-binding declarations - not protocols or opt-outs - targeting perceived Irish concerns around abortion and defence, among other issues.

Guarantees on abortion repeatedly figure among the possible responses of European leaders, despite representing the concerns of only two percent of those who voted No, according to the European Commission's own Eurobarometer poll on why people voted the way they did.

Mr Sarkozy also spent two hours meeting with 21 representatives from the various No-side campaign groups, including Libertas, Sinn Fein, the People's Movement and People Before Profit, each of which had three minutes to make their case. A handful of campaigners from the Yes side, including individuals from the Irish employers association, IBEC, were also in attendance.

The No campaigners, for their part, felt that the French president was not listening to their concerns.

"The most worrying thing about this meeting is the fact that clearly the message is not properly being heard, perhaps not even being heard at all. We have said no,'' said Declan Ganley the millionaire backer of Libertas, whose arguments against the treaty focussed on taxation and regulation as well as democracy issues.

"That this process should continue, this wish to force through this agenda. There is just something fundamentally wrong and broken with that," he added.

Patricia McKenna, of the left-wing People's Movement and a former Green MEP, said after meeting with Mr Sarkozy the whole trip was just a public relations exercise.

"He wants to be able to go back to his own people and say I've consulted all sections of Irish society in relation to the Lisbon Treaty, but he is not getting the message," Ms McKenna said.

"It was very disappointing when he said that it's only extreme situations that you avoid a vote, in other words that Ireland has to vote again.''

However, the head of Sinn Fein, the only mainstream party to oppose the treaty, found the short discussion he had with the French leader more constructive, saying that at least he met with the No campaigners, unlike the Irish government.

"I noted to the EU President that the reasons behind the No vote were not as complex as he and others have suggested," he said.

"The Irish electorate were deeply concerned with issues such as democracy, Ireland's loss of power within the EU, neutrality and militarisation, workers rights and public services. Indeed these same concerns are shared by many across the European Union."

As the Mr Sarkozy arrived, he was greeted by a small protest of a few hundred No campaigners waving "No Means No" placards.

[dogmadestroyer]

Are the French retreating??




 

[Sub-X]

Are the French retreating??


 

 

[Sub-X]

Gilmore: Vote now would deliver a second 'No'
Iirish Independent
22 July 2008

'I told him that his comments last week about a second referendum were distinctly unhelpful'

A SOLUTION to the Lisbon Treaty impasse will be extremely difficult to find before next summer's European elections, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore warned last night.

Following a frank and lively 10-minute meeting with the French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Mr Gilmore said calls for a second referendum from outside observers were likely to contribute to an even bigger 'No' vote in future.

The Labour leader added he had informed the French president that if a second referendum were to take place in the immediate future, the treaty would be defeated again.

"I told him that his comments last week about a second referendum were distinctly unhelpful just indeed (as) were some of the comments made by some of his ministers during the course of the referendum campaign. I told him bluntly that I felt that the comments made by some of his ministers during the referendum campaign contributed to the result we ended up getting," said Mr Gilmore.

The Labour leader also said he couldn't see how the matter would be resolved between now and the European elections next summer.

"There is no basis for believing that a second referendum would produce a result which is any different from the first one -- and calls from the outside the State for a second referendum are likely to contribute to an even bigger 'No' vote."

However, the Labour leader said he had been told there was no prospect of renegotiating the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Sarkozy also stressed there was a "certain time limit and time pressure" in finding a solution because of next year's Europe-wide elections.

The meeting between the two men, which followed Friday's decision by Labour to turn down an invite to speak for just three minutes in the French Embassy, took place in a meeting room beside the Taoiseach's office in Government Buildings.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who also held a 10-minute meeting with the French president prior to Mr Gilmore, said Mr Sarkozy had demonstrated a "distinct understanding" of the sensitivities involved in the Lisbon Treaty vote.

Important

Yesterday's five-hour visit to Dublin was deemed to be "very important" in providing the European President with a "fuller understanding" of the treaty fall-out.

The issue of a second referendum was not raised in the Fine Gael meeting.

"The issue of a second referendum did not come up. I made the point to him that the question as put and decided upon -- that question is over.

"You don't put the same question again. We did not discuss the question of a second referendum," said Mr Kenny.

"We did discuss how he, in his capacity as president of the council (of Europe), would be in a position to help Ireland here and help Europe to understand how sensitive it is here in Ireland."

The Fine Gael leader said he did not ask the French President about his reported comments last week that the Irish would have to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty. Instead, Mr Kenny stressed that the summer period was need to analyse and assess why people voted 'No'.

"I did make the point to him that, in a political sense, to have a second referendum, if that were to be a decision of government, sometime before the European elections in 2009, would not lead to a clear mandate because of the political difficulties that that would bring about."

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War and the Lisbon Treaty
http://www.pana.ie/idn/20080717.html
by Roger Cole
17 July 2008

ON JUNE 9th, days before the Irish people voted to reject the Lisbon Treaty, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published its compendium on military spending. Its main findings show that world military spending in 2007 was $1,339 billion, arms sales by the largest 100 arms companies in 2006 increased by 8 per cent in nominal terms over 2005 and many arms control and non-proliferation agreements are faltering or making little progress. The No vote by the Irish people was a major victory not just for the Irish peace movement, including Pana, the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, but also for the European and international peace movement.

The reason is that the issues of Irish independence, the militarisation of the EU and the commitment to Irish neutrality were central to the No vote.

The Irish Times /TSN mrbi polls carried out in the week before the vote where responses were unprompted and respondents were allowed to give more than one answer, showed safeguarding Irish neutrality (between 22 to 25 per cent) and keeping Ireland's power and identity ( between 18 to 24 per cent) were the main reasons for the result.

The alliance had campaigned for Irish independence, democracy and neutrality, which show that our case for a No vote was central to this great victory of the Irish people.

This is especially so as other organisations that campaigned for a No vote, such as Libertas, never mentioned neutrality and their main issue, that of safeguarding Ireland's corporate tax, was given as a reason by only 5-12 per cent. Now Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president and the current president of the European Council, is paying us a visit seven days after celebrating the anniversary of the French Revolution. Since Wolfe Tone, who wrote a pamphlet in favour of Irish neutrality in 1790 is one of our heroes, it would be reasonable to suggest the alliance and Sarkozy are inspired by the same events.

However, the revolution gave birth not just to the traditions of liberty, equality and fraternity, but also to Napoleonic imperialism. There are no prizes for guessing which tradition Sarkozy belongs to.

Indeed, in a leaked diplomatic memo, a senior Irish civil servant. concerned about Sarkozy, said that he did not want the referendum to take place while France held the EU presidency.

As he continues to attack the French social model, his popularity with the French people has declined, probably mirroring his growing popularity among the Yes campaigners in Ireland, the vast majority of whom are enthusiastic supporters of his militaristic, neo-liberal agenda.

He seeks to massively accelerate the process of the militarisation of the EU and to establish a 60,000-strong EU army; to improve the maritime and air support for this army; expand the existing EU planning cell into a full EU military headquarters, double the funds for France's military space assets up to €700 million a year and give a priority via the European War (Defence) Agency to seek the "harmonisation" of the European armaments companies and review the European security and defence policy that already commits the EU states to pre-emptive war in accordance with the Bush doctrine.

Not content with accelerating the militarisation of the EU, Sarkozy also wants to integrate France into the Nato military structures and to intensify the links between the nuclear armed military alliance and EU military structures.

All this drive towards war and more wars is happening at a time when Nato, EU and US military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are under pressure, the wars are spreading into Pakistan and yet another war is threatening to start in Iran. At the same time, the growing cost of all these wars is causing the possible collapse of the western neo-liberal capitalist system.

Faced with this, the Irish people, far from being "out of our minds" in rejecting this horrific vista, have shown to the world a rare glimpse of sanity and reality by voting No to Sarkozy and his treaty. The irony is that it is the global peace movement and the alliance that are the realists. It is our message of inclusive dialogue, negotiations and social justice that will provide the means by which global stability and sustainable growth can be restored.

It is war and the threat of war that is creating the economic crisis: "disaster capitalism" as Naomi Klein calls it. The Irish No vote was a tremendous decision that echoes the historic vote 90 years ago when the Irish people's vote in favour of the Irish Republic marked the beginning of the end of the British Empire. Far from examining why people voted No, the Irish media's time would be better spent asking why people voted Yes.

Let there be no doubt whatsoever, if the Irish people are forced to vote again over this imperialist charter, the No vote will reach 64 per cent. A real Irish taoiseach, a republican taoiseach, would tell Sarkozy that on July 21st.

[Sub-X]

Meeting with Sarkozy: A report by Andy Storey
http://www.caeuc.org/index.php?q=node/382
23 July 2008

During his brief visit to Dublin on Monday, July 21st, French President Nicolas Sarkozy held a private meeting at the French embassy with a number of individuals involved in the Yes and No campaigns during the Lisbon treaty referendum.

While all on the No side agreed that this ‘consultation’,due to its restricted nature,represented an inadequate response to the issues, there were nonetheless divergent views within CAEUC as to the wisdom of attending. In the end a number of leading No campaigners did attend.

One of them, Andy Storey, development expert at UCD and global justice activist with AFRi, has sent us the following interesting report on the meeting:

Report by Andy Storey
Meeting at the French Embassy, Dublin, July 21st, 2008

Having had some hesitations and doubts about the value of attending yesterday's meeting at the French embassy,and also seeing the merit in Brendan[Young]argument that Left groups should not have participated at all,I am,on balance,glad I went along because I think it provided some insight into the way in which the elites want to solve this 'problem'.

In a nuthsell, Sarkozy wants a solution at least identified by the end of the year,whereas the Irish political class is urging a longer time-frame(the key words used are patience, need to reflect, etc.)The plea for more time was made by all the main Irish parties/players - Dick Roche,Billy Timmins(for Fine Gael),Joe Costello,Alan Dukes,Pat Cox.My own interpretation of this would be that the Irish motivation is two-fold.They want sufficient time to elapse for a second vote to have a better prospect of success, and they may also hope that they could be overtaken by events and find themselves in a new scenario where a vote might not even be necessary;I am not at all sure what this could constitute, but they could just be buying time in the hope that something turns up.

Sarkozy's position is very clear. He wants a certain number of Irish concerns tackled by'solemn declarations' and other forms of political statement that could be appended to the Treaty (altering its content in no substantive way whatsoever,but improving its appearence). These would probably include neutrality, abortion, corporate taxes, etc,and most likely some promise could be made on the Commissioner issue as well. He was most adamant and specific on the question of not wanting to harmonise corporate taxes (this point being especially raised by Shane Ross), and indeed expressed the desire to cut such taxes in France. From his very strong support for the IFA position yesterday, and his accomodating attitude to the stated concerns of fisherpeople,I suspect we will see concessions/promises of some sort made to those two specific constituencies also.Two points are central here. First, the concerns pandered to will be largely right-wing ones (neutrality, as he and the Irish elite define it, is a red herring).

Second, the substance of the Treaty will not be renegotiated - even on the concerns they choose to look at, all that will be offered will be non-legally binding Declarations, etc. (This last point is especially important in the unlikely event that some sort of ETUC-inspired 'social protection clause' is mentioned in a Declaration; David Begg mentioned this yesterday, but suggested it could be appended to SOME Treaty, not necessarily this one!)

Those speakers who raised more fundamental issues about the broad content of the Treaty and argued that it was not acceptable in any mildly (indeed spuriously) revised form - myself, Patricia McKenna,Richard Boyd Barrett, Gerry Adams and, in a very different way, Declan Ganley - were not substantivelyengaged with. This, as he sees it, is a problem to be solved - and he's interested in coming up with workable, short-term solutions, not opening up debate about the direction in which Europe is heading.

(Incidentally, this is not to say that he did not want to argue with us - for example, he interrupted both Richard and Patricia - but it was a case of 'setting us right' and/or defending his own position, not accepting that these were issues to be seriously considered).

The difference between him and the Irish contingent is one of tactics, not principle.My overriding impression is of an Irish political class that got badly burned and doesn't want to step anywhere near the fire again for the foreseeable future. They hope that time might allow the embers to cool, or else that somehow the whole thing could disappear (see above).

This is really about different constituencies -Sarkozy can't get punished by Irish electors.It is also probably about temperament - Sarkozy is incredibly vain and impatient, and more of a gambler/risk-taker than most of his Irish counterparts. His preference, I suspect, would be to ask the Irish to vote again and advance endlessly the argument (which he repeated several times yesterday)that little Ireland is holding up the democraticallyendorsed path chosen by 26 other countries.The Irish elite, of course, will ultimately fall into line with him on this, but they'd rather not be seen to be doing so right now.

In terms of left and progressive concerns, there is,in my opinion, absolutely no prospect whatsoever that any of our concerns will be substantively addressed through some form of Treaty renegotiation, Protocols,etc. This is hardly a surprise, but it's useful to have it fairly conclusively confirmed and be able tocampaign accordingly. Anyway, I hope this is helpful.