Is Ireland about to ratify the Lisbon Treaty?
Only one year ago it was the Irish electorate that effectively crushed the growing push for EU collaboration between member states with a rejection of the Lisbon Treaty. Despite the fact that UK voters were not given a chance to air their views on the treaty, it appears as though we are set for a rerun in October after the Irish authorities agreed various get out clauses with the EU hierarchy. But why are we having another referendum?
There is no doubt that the EU bandwagon, which was so sharply knocked off the road by the Irish electorate last year, is back on track. The Irish authorities are desperate for funding to assist their dying economy and the EU Parliament has promised further assistance, perhaps in exchange for ratifying the treaty?
When you hear the Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen refusing to contemplate a no vote in October it seems as though the scene is set for a fairly robust and aggressive yes campaign. Whether Ireland is being held to ransom is very much open to debate but that those in favour of and those against the Lisbon Treaty need to ask themselves, would we have seen a rerun of the vote if the Irish electorate had said yes last year?
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