Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 (Ireland)

Result and turnout for the referendum

The Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 was a failed proposal to amend the Constitution of Ireland that was put to a referendum in 2008 (the first Lisbon referendum). The purpose of the proposed amendment was to enable the state to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon of the European Union.

The amendment was rejected by voters on 12 June 2008[1] by a margin of 53.4% to 46.6%, with a turnout of 53.1%.[2] The treaty had been intended to enter into force on 1 January 2009, but had to be delayed following the Irish rejection. However the Lisbon treaty was eventually approved by Irish voters when the successful Twenty-eighth Amendment of the constitution was approved in the second Lisbon referendum, held in October 2009.

Background

A 1987 decision of the Supreme Court established that ratification by Ireland of any significant amendment to the Treaties of the European Union requires an amendment to the Constitution of Ireland.[3] All Constitutional amendments require approval by referendum.

A referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe of the European Union was expected to be held in 2005 or 2006 but was cancelled following the rejection of the Constitution by voters in France in May 2005 and in the Netherlands in June 2005. The Treaty of Lisbon represents the European-wide political compromise that was agreed upon in the wake of the rejection of the Constitution. It preserves most of the content of the Constitution, especially the new rules on the functioning of the European Institutions, but gives up any symbolic or terminologic reference to a Constitution. (See Treaty of Lisbon compared to the European Constitution.)

Ireland is the only EU member state that has held a public referendum on the Treaty. Ratification of the Treaty in all other member states is decided upon by the states' national parliaments. The referendum is part of the larger EU ratification of the Treaty, which requires that all EU members, and the European Parliament must ratify it. A "No" vote in the referendum could block the treaty in the EU altogether. However, the Treaty of Nice was ratified by Ireland in 2002 in a second referendum after the first vote rejected it by a narrow margin in 2001.

Passage of the bill

The treaty was signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon. On 26 February 2008, the Government of Ireland approved the text of the changes to the constitution.[4] The Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2008 was published on 6 March.[5] The bill allows for the ratification of the treaty and also retains the prohibition on Irish participation in an EU common defence agreement. It also allows for Ireland (like the United Kingdom) to opt out from the change from unanimous decisions to qualified majority voting in the sector of police and judicial affairs; this decision will be reviewed three years after the treaty enters into force (if referendum allows). Both states will be able to opt in on these voting issues on a case-by-case basis.

In Dáil Éireann, the bill passed the First Stage on 2 April 2008, the Second Stage on 23 April 2008, and the Committee Stage and Report and Final Stages on 29 April 2008;[5] the text of the referendum was also approved on 29 April.[6]

The bill was then sent to Seanad Éireann, where it passed the Second Stage and Committee Stage on 1 May 2008, and the Report and Final Stages on 9 May 2008.[5]

Proposed changes to the text

The State shall not adopt a decision taken by the European Council to establish a common defence pursuant to Article 1.2 of the Treaty referred to in subsection 7° of this section where that common defence would include the State.
The State may ratify the Agreement relating to Community Patents drawn up between the Member States of the Communities and done at Luxembourg on the 15th day of December, 1989.
The State may ratify the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, signed at Lisbon on the 13th day of December 2007, and may be a member of the European Union established by virtue of that Treaty.
No provision of this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the State that are necessitated by the obligations of membership of the European Union referred to in subsection 10 of this section, or prevents laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the said European Union or by institutions thereof, or by bodies competent under the treaties referred to in this section, from having the force of law in the State.
The State may exercise the options or discretions provided by or under Articles 1.22, 2.64, 2.65, 2.66, 2.67, 2.68 and 2.278 of the Treaty referred to in subsection 10 of this section and Articles 1.18 and 1.20 of Protocol No. 1 annexed to that Treaty, but any such exercise shall be subject to the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The State may exercise the option to secure that the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (formerly known as the Treaty establishing the European Community) shall, in whole or in part, cease to apply to the State, but any such exercise shall be subject to the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The State may agree to the decisions, regulations or other acts under —
i. Article 1.34(b)(iv),
ii. Article 1.56 (in so far as it relates to Article 48.7 of the Treaty referred to in subsection 4 of this section),
iii. Article 2.66 (in so far as it relates to the second subparagraph of Article 65.3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union),
iv. Article 2.67 (in so far as it relates to subparagraph (d) of Article 69A.2, the third subparagraph of Article 69B.1 and paragraphs 1 and 4 of Article 69E of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union),
v. Article 2.144(a),
vi. Article 2.261 (in so far as it relates to the second subparagraph of Article 270a.2 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), and
vii. Article 2.278 (in so far as it relates to Article 280H of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), of the Treaty referred to in subsection 10 of this section, and may also agree to the decision under the second sentence of the second subparagraph of Article 137.2 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (as amended by Article 2.116(a) of the Treaty referred to in the said subsection 10), but the agreement to any such decision, regulation or act shall be subject to the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The State shall not adopt a decision taken by the European Council to establish a common defence pursuant to —
i. Article 1.2 of the Treaty referred to in subsection 7 of this section, or
ii. Article 1.49 of the Treaty referred to in subsection 10 of this section, where that common defence would include the State.

Referendum campaign

Campaign posters in St Stephen's Green, Dublin

Participants

See also: Irish Times articles on the "No" and "Yes" factions, and the Referendum Commission

Organisation Notable personnel Stance
CóirRichard Greene, Niamh Uí BhríainNo
Independent Workers Union of IrelandPatricia CampbellNo
Irish Alliance for EuropeRuairi QuinnYes
Irish Congress of Trade UnionsDavid BeggYes
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers AssociationJackie CahillYes
Irish Farmers' AssociationPadraig WalsheYes
Fianna FáilBrian CowenYes
Fine GaelEnda KennyYes
Green PartyJohn Gormley, Patricia McKennaMixed
Labour PartyEamon GilmoreYes
LibertasDeclan GanleyNo
National PlatformAnthony CoughlanNo
Peace and Neutrality AllianceRoger ColeNo
People's MovementPatricia McKennaNo
Progressive DemocratsCiarán CannonYes
Referendum CommissionIarfhlaith O'NeillNeutral
SIPTUJack O'ConnorNeutral
Sinn FéinGerry Adams, Mary Lou McDonaldNo
Socialist PartyJoe HigginsNo
People Before Profit AllianceRichard Boyd BarrettNo
Socialist Workers Party?No
Technical Electrical and Engineering UnionEamon DevoyNo
Workers' PartyMick FinneganNo

Events

The government parties of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats were in favour of the treaty, but the other government party, the Green Party, was divided on the issue. At a special convention on 19 January 2008, the leadership of the Green Party failed to secure a two-thirds majority required to make support for the referendum official party policy. The result of the vote was 63% in favour. As a result, the Green Party itself did not participate in the referendum debate, although individual members were free to be involved in whatever side they chose; all Green Party members of the Oireachtas supported the Treaty.[7][8] The main opposition parties of Fine Gael[9] and the Labour Party were also in favour. Only one party represented in the Oireachtas, Sinn Féin, was opposed to the treaty, while minor parties opposed to it included the Socialist Party, the Workers' Party and the Socialist Workers Party. Independent TD's Tony Gregory and Finian McGrath, Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott, and Independent members of the Seanad from the universities David Norris, Shane Ross and Rónán Mullen advocated a No vote as well.

The then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern warned against making Ireland a 'battlefield' for eurosceptics across Europe. The invitation by UCD's Law Society to French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen was seen as an example of this.[10] Nigel Farage, leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, committed his party to supporting the No campaign saying: “UKIP members will be encouraged to go to Ireland to help.”[11]

The Government sent bilingual booklets written in English and Irish, explaining the Treaty, to all 2.5 million Irish households. However compendiums of the two previous treaties, of which the Lisbon Treaty is intended to be a series of reforms and amendments, remain unavailable in Ireland.[12] Some commentators have argued that the treaty remains essentially incomprehensible in the absence of such a compendium.[12]

On 12 March 2008, Libertas, a lobby group started by businessman Declan Ganley launched a campaign called Facts, not politics which advocated a No vote in the referendum.[13] A month later, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel appealed to Irish people to vote Yes in the referendum whilst on a visit to Ireland. The anti-Lisbon Treaty campaign group accused the government and Fine Gael of a U-turn on their previous policy of discouraging foreign leaders from visiting Ireland during the referendum campaign.[14] The European Commissioner for the Internal Market Charlie McCreevy admitted he had not read the Treaty from cover to cover, and said "he would not expect any sane person to do so".[15]

At the start of May, the Irish Alliance for Europe launched its campaign for a Yes vote in the referendum this consisted of trade unionists, business people, academics and politicians. Its members include Garret FitzGerald, Ruairi Quinn, Pat Cox and Michael O'Kennedy.[16] The Taoiseach Brian Cowen stated that should any member of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party campaign against the treaty, they would likely be expelled from the party.[17]

On 21 May 2008, the executive council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions voted to support a Yes vote in the referendum.[18] Rank and file members of the individual unions were not balloted and the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) advised its 45,000 members to vote No. The Irish bishops conference stated the Catholic Church's declaration that the treaty would not weaken Ireland's constitutional ban on abortion, however the conference did not advocate either a Yes or No vote. By the start of June, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party had united in their push for a Yes vote despite earlier divisions.[19] The two largest farming organisations, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA)[20] and the Irish Farmers' Association[21] called for a Yes vote, the latter giving its support after assurances from the Taoiseach Brian Cowen that Ireland would use its veto in Europe if a deal on World Trade reform was unacceptable.

Opinion polls

Date of opinion poll Conductor Sample size In favour Against Undecided
7 June 2008[22] Red C ? 42% 39% 19%
5 June 2008[23] TNS/mrbi 1000 30% 35% 35%
24 May 2008[24] Red C ? 41% 33% 26%
16 May 2008[25] TNS/mrbi 1000 35% 18% 47%
10 May 2008[26] Red C 1000 38% 28% 34%
26 April 2008[27] Red C ? 35% 31% 34%
14 April 2008[28] Red C ? 28% 12% 60%
1 March 2008[29] Red C ? 46% 23% 31%
27 January 2008[30] Red C 1002 45% 25% 31%
26 January 2008[31] tns/MRBI ? 26% 10% 66%
October 2007[31] tns/MRBI ? 25% 13% 62%

Voting

There were 3,051,278 voters on the electoral register.[32] The vast majority of voting took place on Thursday, 12 June between 07:00 and 22:00. Counting began the following morning at 09:00. Several groups voted before the standard polling day:

Some groups were able to cast postal votes before 9 June, namely: members of the Irish Defence Forces serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions; Irish diplomats and their spouses abroad; members of the Garda Síochána; those unable to vote in person due to physical illness or disability; those who would be unable to vote in person due to their employment (including students); and prisoners.[33]

On 9 June, several islands off the coast of County Donegal voted: Tory Island, Inisfree, Gola, Inishbofin and Arranmore Island; these islands are all part of the Donegal South-West constituency. Around 37% of the 745 eligible voted.[34] Two days later, several islands off the coast of Counties Galway and Mayo voted: the Aran Islands (Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr) and Inishboffin form part of Galway West constituency; while Inishturk, Inishbiggle and Clare Island form part of the Mayo constituency. The Galway islands had 1,169 eligible to vote, while the Mayo islands had 197.[35]

Result

Votes were counted separately in each Dáil Éireann constituency. The overall verdict was formally announced by the Referendum Returning Officer in Dublin Castle by accumulating the constituency totals.[2]

National

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland Bill, 2008[36]
Choice Votes %
Referendum failed No 862,415 53.40
Yes 752,451 46.60
Valid votes 1,614,866 99.62
Invalid or blank votes 6,171 0.38
Total votes 1,621,037 100.00
Registered voters and turnout 3,051,278 53.13

By constituency

Declared results by constituency 13 June 2008
  NO
  YES
Choropleth map giving percentage vote "Yes".
All figures rounded to nearest digit.
  65% or more Yes
  60% or more Yes
  55% or more Yes
  50% or more Yes
  45% or more Yes
  40% or more Yes
  35% or more Yes
  Under 35% Yes
Constituency Electorate Spoilt votes Total poll (%) For (%) Against (%)
Carlow–Kilkenny 103,397 228 52,644 (51) 26,210 (50) 26,206 (50)
Cavan–Monaghan 92,920 190 49,649 (53) 22,346 (45) 27,113 (55)
Clare 77,398 145 40,617 (52) 20,982 (52) 19,490 (48)
Cork East 83,850 169 42,398 (51) 18,177 (43) 24,052 (57)
Cork North-Central 65,738 134 35,120 (53) 12,440 (36) 22,546 (64)
Cork North-West 63,574 114 35,358 (56) 16,253 (46) 18,991 (54)
Cork South-Central 89,844 177 49,455 (55) 22,112 (45) 27,166 (55)
Cork South-West 58,225 143 32,184 (55) 14,235 (44) 17,806 (56)
Donegal North-East 56,195 144 25,654 (46) 9,006 (35) 16,504 (65)
Donegal South-West 60,079 113 27,946 (47) 10,174 (37) 17,659 (63)
Dublin Central 57,864 121 28,265 (49) 12,328 (44) 15,816 (56)
Dublin Mid-West 61,622 74 31,833 (52) 12,577 (40) 19,182 (60)
Dublin North 81,550 187 45,077 (55) 22,696 (51) 22,194 (49)
Dublin North-Central 51,156 77 31,245 (61) 15,772 (51) 15,396 (49)
Dublin North-East 52,432 101 29,991 (57) 12,917 (43) 16,973 (57)
Dublin North-West 49,893 69 26,394 (53) 9,576 (36) 16,749 (64)
Dublin South 87,855 147 51,342 (58) 32,190 (63) 19,005 (37)
Dublin South-Central 67,499 136 42,170 (52) 16,410 (39) 25,624 (61)
Dublin South-East 81,743 116 27,871 (50) 17,111 (62) 10,644 (38)
Dublin South-West 56,202 124 36,181 (54) 12,601 (35) 23,456 (65)
Dublin West 52,173 94 28,421 (55) 13,573 (48) 14,754 (52)
Dún Laoghaire 84,710 137 49,810 (59) 31,524 (64) 18,149 (37)
Galway East 80,569 166 40,124 (50) 18,728 (47) 21,230 (53)
Galway West 85,642 190 42,844 (50) 19,643 (46) 23,011 (54)
Kerry North 54,787 112 28,120 (51) 11,306 (41) 16,702 (59)
Kerry South 51,338 117 27,257 (54) 11,569 (43) 15,571 (57)
Kildare North 71,429 117 36,815 (52) 20,045 (55) 16,653 (45)
Kildare South 57,145 80 27,858 (49) 13,470 (49) 14,308 (51)
Laois–Offaly 105,053 243 56,992 (54) 31,786 (56) 24,963 (44)
Limerick East 76,735 168 39,444 (51) 18,085 (46) 21,191 (54)
Limerick West 57,847 129 29,958 (52) 13,318 (45) 16,511 (55)
Longford–Westmeath 81,834 192 42,065 (51) 19,371 (46) 22,502 (54)
Louth 83,458 168 44,565 (53) 18,586 (42) 25,811 (58)
Mayo 95,250 197 48,822 (51) 18,624 (38) 30,001 (62)
Meath East 67,415 105 34,148 (51) 17,340 (51) 16,703 (49)
Meath West 62,816 119 32,589 (52) 14,442 (45) 18,028 (55)
Roscommon–South Leitrim 59,728 131 33,962 (57) 15,429 (47) 18,402 (54)
Sligo–North Leitrim 55,591 130 29,228 (53) 12,602 (44) 16,496 (56)
Tipperary North 55,941 148 32,750 (59) 16,235 (50) 16,367 (50)
Tipperary South 53,687 148 29,756 (56) 13,853 (47) 15,755 (53)
Waterford 72,052 160 38,474 (54) 17,502 (46) 20,812 (54)
Wexford 101,124 205 53,369 (53) 23,371 (44) 29,793 (56)
Wicklow 85,918 206 52,272 (61) 25,936 (50) 26,130 (50)
Source: The Irish Times: Detailed count results for each constituency

Reasons for rejection

Ireland has begun to cast a sceptical[37] eye on the EU and general concerns about how Europe is developing were raised.[38] As of Spring 2007, the Irish citizenry have the second least European identity in the EU, with 59% identifying as exclusively Irish as opposed to wholly/partly European.[39] The integrationist aspects of the Lisbon treaty were therefore also of concern.[40] Few expressed specifically anti-EU statements, but pro-EU sentiments were interpreted[41] or expressed[42] in favour of an idealised/desired EU and expressed concern about its present form or the future direction of the EU post-Lisbon. To keep Ireland's power and identity,[43] voters chose to vote "no".

Another factor in Lisbon's failure was Lisbon itself. An impenetrable legal document, it could not be understood without close study,[44] and even the Referendum Commission – the nonpartisan body set up to explain it – could not explain it all.[45] [46] The treaty's lack of clarity meant that interpretations could not be confidently stated to be true or false. Consequently, issues such as abortion,[46] [47] [48] tax,[49] euthanasia,[50] the veto,[46] [51] EU directives,[52] qualified majority voting,[53] Ireland's commissioner,[54] detention of three-year-olds,[46] the death penalty,[55] Euroarmy conscription,[56] gay marriage,[57] immigration,[46][58] nuclear energy,[59] workers' rights,[59] sovereignty,[60] and neutrality[61] were raised, some of which were spurious[46] [62] or actually dealt with by the Treaty of Nice.[63] The "No" faction could fight on whichever terrain they wished[64] and could give positive reasons for rejecting the treaty, such as the possibility of renegotiation.[65] Conversely, the "Yes" faction could only offer negatives[66] and could only react to the statements of the other side.[46] [67] Lacking a clear identification of specifics, voters chose to vote "No".[39]

In September 2008 rumours in Brussels indicated that US billionaires and neocons heavily influenced the Irish vote by sponsoring the "No" campaigns, particularly those of Declan Ganley's Libertas lobby group.[68] It is said that US interest groups this way pursued their goal of hindering the European Union to become a stronger partner internationally. However, the British conservative MEP Jonathan Evans reported to EUobserver on 9 December 2008 after returning from a European Parliament delegation to the US, "[o]ur congressional colleagues drew our attention to a statement from US deputy secretary of state John Negroponte at Trinity College Dublin on 17 November, completely refuting the suggestion of any US dimension whatsoever". The European Parliament is considering launching "an inquiry to discover whether US agencies actively supported Libertas in the 12 June referendum."[69][70]

A poll was published by the Irish Times on 18 June 2008. The question was "Why did you vote no?" and the results[71] are given below.

Reason for rejecting the Lisbon Treaty Percentage
Don't understand /not familiar 40%
Protect Irish identity 20%
Don't trust politicians/Govt policies 17%
Protect neutrality 10%
Keep commissioner 10%
Protect tax system 8%

A Flash Eurobarometer poll of 2,000 random respondents was conducted between 13 and 15 June on behalf of the European Commission by Gallup. Those respondents who voted "no" in the referendum were asked "Please tell me what are the reasons why you voted "no" to the treaty?" and the results[72] are given below.

Reason for rejecting the Lisbon Treaty Percentage
Because I do not know enough about the Treaty and would not want to vote for something I am not familiar with 22%
To protect Irish identity 12%
To safeguard Irish neutrality in security and defence matters 6%
I do not trust our politicians 6%
We will lose our right to have an Irish Commissioner in every Commission 6%
To protect our tax system 6%
I am against the idea of a unified Europe 5%
To protest against the government's policies 4%
To avoid that the EU speaks with one voice on global issues 4%
Because large Member States decide on EU matters 4%
To protect the influence of small states 3%
It would allow the introduction of European legislation in Ireland, such as gay marriage, abortion, euthanasia 2%
To avoid an influx of immigrants 1%
The EU does not need any fixing, it works fine 1%
Other 14%
Don't know/not applicable 3%

French Europe Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet blamed "American neoconservatives" for the Irish voter's rejection of the treaty.[73]

Second referendum

In the meeting of the European Council (the meeting of the heads of government of all twenty-seven European Union member states) in Brussels on 11–12 December 2008, Taoiseach Brian Cowen presented the concerns of the Irish people relating to taxation policy, family, social and ethical issues, and Ireland's policy of neutrality.[74] Effectively Ireland's position was renegotiated, and the revised package was approved by the electorate in 2009. Because of the Irish financial crisis it was also apparent that Ireland would need increased financial support from the European Union.

The European Council agreed that:

The Irish Government then committed to seeking ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon by the end of the term of the current European Commission[74] (October 2009), provided that the above were implemented satisfactorily.[74]

The European Council did not specify what forms the legal guarantees would take.[74] The Sunday Business Post stated that what the European Council had offered were Decisions and/or Declarations, not protocols.[75] Decisions and/or Declarations of the European Council are agreements made between all twenty-seven member states of the European Union and are not part of a treaty, whereas protocols are agreements between states as part of a treaty.[75][76] Previous examples of Decisions and/or Declarations following a referendum rejection include the 1992 Edinburgh Agreement (following the first Danish referendum on the Maastricht Treaty) and the 2002 Seville Declaration[77] (following the first Irish referendum on the Treaty of Nice). French President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking to the European Parliament in his capacity as President of the European Council[78] during the six-month presidency of that body by France, stated that the legal guarantees would be added as a protocol[78] later to the treaty, enabling Croatia to join the European Union legally.

The guarantee that Ireland would keep its Commissioner provided Lisbon was ratified was criticised in the Irish Times[76] on the grounds that it may lead to an oversized European Commission.

The Twenty-eighth Amendment in October 2009 formally authorised the government to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "12 June pencilled in as date for Lisbon Treaty vote". BreakingNews.ie. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  2. 1 2 "Results received at the Central Count Centre for the Referendum on The Lisbon Treaty". Referendum Returning Officer, referendum.ie. 13 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  3. ↑ Raymond Crotty v An Taoiseach and Others [1987] IESC 4 (9 April 1987)
  4. ↑ "Cabinet approves text for Lisbon vote". RTÉ News. 26 February 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 "Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008". Oireachtas. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
  6. ↑ "Statement for Information of Voters: Motion.". Oireachtas. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  7. ↑ "Greens fail to agree support for Lisbon Treaty". The Irish Times. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  8. ↑ Deaglán de Bréadún (21 January 2008). "Greens will not take party stance on Lisbon Treaty". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  9. ↑ "FG calls on public to back Lisbon Treaty". RTÉ News. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  10. ↑ "Reports of Le Pen visit prompt angry reaction". The Irish Times. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  11. ↑ "Ireland pressured to vote for EU treaty". UK Independence Party. 14 April 2008. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008.
  12. 1 2 Vincent Browne (5 March 2008). "Gobbledegook and the case against the Lisbon Treaty". The Irish Times.
  13. ↑ "Anti-Lisbon treaty campaign is launched". RTÉ News. 12 March 2008.
  14. ↑ "Merkel calls for Yes vote on Lisbon Treaty". RTÉ News. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  15. ↑ "Germany is 14th state to ratify Lisbon Treaty". RTÉ News. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  16. ↑ "Alliance launches Treaty Yes campaign". RTÉ News. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  17. ↑ Sheahan, Fionnan; Molony, Senan; Brennan, Michael (13 May 2008). "Cowen to kick out FF treaty 'rebels'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
  18. ↑ "Ictu votes to support Lisbon Treaty Yes vote". The Irish Times. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  19. ↑ "FF and main Opposition parties unite to push for Yes vote". The Irish Times. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  20. ↑ "ICMSA to support Lisbon Yes vote". RTÉ News. 1 June 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  21. ↑ "IFA calls for Yes vote on Lisbon". RTÉ News. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  22. ↑ "New poll shows further gains for No side". RTÉ News. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  23. ↑ "'No' Lisbon vote surges ahead in poll". RTÉ News. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  24. ↑ "New poll shows narrowing gap in referendum". RTÉ News. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  25. ↑ "Poll boost for Lisbon Yes campaign". RTÉ News. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  26. ↑ "New poll shows increase in Lisbon support". RTÉ News. 10 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  27. ↑ "Poll shows swing against Lisbon Treaty". RTÉ News. 26 April 2008. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  28. ↑ "Majority still undecided on Lisbon Treaty referendum". BreakingNews.ie. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  29. ↑ "Poll shows lack of trust in Ahern". RTÉ News. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  30. ↑ "Public distrusts Ahern despite FF poll gains". Sunday Business Post. 27 January 2008. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  31. 1 2 "66% undecided on Lisbon Treaty". RTÉ News. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  32. ↑ "Referendum.ie – Referendum: The Lisbon Treaty". Referendum Commission. Archived from the original on 17 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  33. ↑ "Referendum.ie – Supplement to the Postal and Special Voters List" (PDF). Referendum Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  34. ↑ "Islanders cast first votes on Lisbon". RTÉ News. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  35. ↑ "Referendum voting on west coast islands". RTÉ News. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  36. ↑ "Referendum Results" (PDF). Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  37. ↑ "Irish voters and the EU". International Herald Tribune. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Result reveals audience for euroscepticism". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  38. ↑ "Lisbon clause could provide for permanent commissioner". The Irish Times. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  39. 1 2 "Deeper look at poll illuminates complex reasons for result". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  40. ↑ "Second referendum cannot be held, says O'Rourke". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Cowen 'must seek halt to ratification'". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  41. ↑ "Irish voters and the EU". International Herald Tribune. 16 June 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  42. ↑ "The people have spoken – and they are not loo-lahs". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Anti-Lisbon treaty campaign is launched". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  43. ↑ "Deeper look at poll illuminates complex reasons for result". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Treaty opponents saw few risks in voting No". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  44. ↑ "Treaty opponents saw few risks in voting No". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Deeper look at poll illuminates complex reasons for result". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Only 5% understand Lisbon Treaty, survey". RTÉ News. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and O'€™Neill, Sean; Hamilton, Fiona (8 June 2008). "Be positive, vote no". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 19 June 2008. C1 control character in |last1= at position 3 (help)
  45. ↑ "Irish voters and the EU". International Herald Tribune. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Referendum body sheds light on Lisbon". RTÉ News. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  46. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Ten reasons why Ireland said No to Lisbon". Sunday Tribune. 15 June 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  47. ↑ "Cowen says Ireland 'faces uncertainty'". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Humiliated Government must try to clear up mess". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "No Lisbon renegotiation, says Mansergh". RTÉ News. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Referendum body sheds light on Lisbon". RTÉ News. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  48. ↑ "Yes side only have themselves to blame". The Sunday Business Post. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and Sharrock, David; Charter, David (19 June 2008). "Pressure on Czechs and Poles not to say 'no' to EU treaty too". The Times. London. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Will The Irish Guillotine Lisbon?" (PDF). Centre for European Reform. June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  49. ↑ "Cowen says Ireland 'faces uncertainty'". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Humiliated Government must try to clear up mess". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and Smith, Nicola; Oliver, Jonathan (15 June 2008). "Real people 1, Eurocrats 0 (after extra time)". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Yes campaign criticised over tax position". RTÉ News. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Lisbon a bad deal for everyone, says Adams". RTÉ News. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Anti-Lisbon treaty campaign is launched". RTÉ News. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and Sharrock, David; Charter, David (19 June 2008). "Pressure on Czechs and Poles not to say 'no' to EU treaty too". The Times. London. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  50. ↑ "Treaty opponents saw few risks in voting No". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Will The Irish Guillotine Lisbon?" (PDF). Centre for European Reform. June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  51. ↑ "Cowen 'must seek halt to ratification'". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "A good start would have been half the work for Yes campaign". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Germany is 14th state to ratify Lisbon Treaty". RTÉ News. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Referendum body sheds light on Lisbon". RTÉ News. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Lisbon a bad deal for everyone, says Adams". RTÉ News. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  52. ↑ "Ministers to meet ahead of vital EU summit". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Cowen says Ireland 'faces uncertainty'". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  53. ↑ Smith, Nicola; Oliver, Jonathan (15 June 2008). "Real people 1, Eurocrats 0 (after extra time)". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  54. ↑ "Cowen 'must seek halt to ratification'". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: Smith, Nicola; Oliver, Jonathan (15 June 2008). "Real people 1, Eurocrats 0 (after extra time)". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "EU reform thrown into turmoil as Irish reject treaty". Centre for European Reform. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  55. ↑ "Why politicians hate referendums". BBC News. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  56. ↑ "Second referendum cannot be held, says O'Rourke". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  57. ↑ "Treaty opponents saw few risks in voting No". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Will The Irish Guillotine Lisbon?" (PDF). Centre for European Reform. June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "EU reform thrown into turmoil as Irish reject treaty". Centre for European Reform. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  58. ↑ "Yes side only have themselves to blame". The Sunday Business Post. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Ireland divided over Lisbon Treaty". Polskie Radio. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and Sheahan, Fionnan (17 June 2008). "Revealed: why we voted 'No' to Lisbon". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  59. 1 2 "Ireland Deserves Better" (PDF). Sinn Féin. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  60. ↑ "Humiliated Government must try to clear up mess". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Will The Irish Guillotine Lisbon?" (PDF). Centre for European Reform. June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  61. ↑ "Cowen says Ireland 'faces uncertainty'". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "Humiliated Government must try to clear up mess". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and Smith, Nicola; Oliver, Jonathan (15 June 2008). "Real people 1, Eurocrats 0 (after extra time)". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Cowen fights back over Govt Lisbon 'failure'". RTÉ News. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Lisbon a bad deal for everyone, says Adams". RTÉ News. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-19. and Sharrock, David; Charter, David (19 June 2008). "Pressure on Czechs and Poles not to say 'no' to EU treaty too". The Times. London. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Will The Irish Guillotine Lisbon?" (PDF). Centre for European Reform. June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  62. ↑ "Irish voters and the EU". International Herald Tribune. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "The Lisbon Treaty: Yes or No?". CatholicIreland.net. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  63. ↑ O'€™Neill, Sean; Hamilton, Fiona (8 June 2008). "Be positive, vote no". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 20 June 2008. C1 control character in |last1= at position 3 (help)
  64. ↑ Obrien, Stephen; Oakley, Richard (8 June 2008). "Polls show scant support for Lisbon treaty". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  65. ↑ "Treaty opponents saw few risks in voting No". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. See also: "No Lisbon renegotiation, says Mansergh". RTÉ News. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and "Cowen fights back over Govt Lisbon 'failure'". RTÉ News. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008. and Sheahan, Fionnan (17 June 2008). "Revealed: why we voted 'No' to Lisbon". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  66. ↑ "Result is a reflection of popular belief that things can only get worse". The Irish Times. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  67. ↑ "Yes side only have themselves to blame". The Sunday Business Post. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  68. ↑ "Wie ein Milliardär Europa aufschreckt". Der Spiegel (in German). 28 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  69. ↑ "MEPs seeking source of Libertas funding". The Irish Times. 23 September 2008.
  70. ↑ "American military ties to the Lisbon "no" camp?". The Economist. 23 September 2008.
  71. ↑ "Post-vote poll". The Irish Times. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  72. ↑ "Flash Eurobarometer No 245 – Post-referendum survey in Ireland" (PDF). Gallup. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  73. ↑ "France's minister sees a neocon plot". The Economist. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  74. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Presidency Conclusions, Council of the European Union, Brussels, 11–12 December 2008" (PDF). European Council. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  75. 1 2 McGurk, Tom (14 December 2008). "All aboard the Lisbon Treaty merry-go-round". The Sunday Business Post. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  76. 1 2 Bar, Antonio (17 December 2008). "Cowen got what he asked for, but it was a pyrrhic victory". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  77. ↑ "National Declaration by Ireland – Seville". Department of the Taoiseach. 2002. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  78. 1 2 "Sarkozy attacks federalists in EU". BBC News Online. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.

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