Ireland seems likely to be heading for a referendum as 23 of the 27 EU leaders who are currently taking part in the EU summit in Brussels, have agreed to pursue tighter integration and stricter budget rules for the euro zone.
Ireland has a history of impeding European integration. This referendum could delay or even obstruct budgetary rules which would preserve the euro.
Britain, a key trading partner to Ireland, said it cannot accept the proposed amendments to the EU treaty. This creates the risk of a two-speed Europe as France and Germany plan to forge an intergovernmental treaty among the euro zone countries.
Speaking to Reuters from Brussels, Irish Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton told Reuters the likelihood of Ireland holding a referendum is “50-50”.
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Gavin Barrett, a senior law lecturer at University College Dublin who specializes in European constitutional law said: “I think it's probable that we are looking at a referendum.”
The Irish have the right to vote on any major shift of power towards Brussels, however their relationship with the EU has soured since the financial collapse.
Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny, who is taking part in the summit in Brussels, has raised the issue of reducing the burden of Ireland’s bank bailout. If the EU would help Ireland with this bill it would be “be very helpful in persuading the electorate to vote yes in any new referendum,” Reuters reports.
Eoin O’Malley, from Dublin City University, said passing another European referendum by the Irish people is “going to be a difficult job if there isn't some sort of goodie bag that goes with it…We could be probably bought off with 10 billion euros in some way. He [Kenny] just needs something."
Here's the Euronews report on Britain's rejection of the EU plans:
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Aughavey | Dec 14, 2011, 02:10 PM EST
the treaty talks about the deal being at member stgates constitutional level - so that should trigger a referendum as amendments to the Irish constitution are subject to a referendum. This treaty involves giving even more control of the Irish economy to the EU - it is the basis for a federal United States of Europe. As to the UK being isolated - there are plenty of European countries outside the EU that are doing just fine - Switzerland, Norway etc. The UK is all for the EU as a free trade bloc but not as a political and fiscal union towards a United States of Europe. The Irish government is currently doing the bidding of European bankers to implement austerity measures - the power no longer lies in Dublin as a sovereign government.
sirpeter | Dec 12, 2011, 10:45 AM EST
Georgie Boy the problem is the kids of these people are Irish born.The families of children born here are now legally entitled to return following a decision of the European Court of Justice in March which declared children born in the EU to foreign national parents are entitled to EU citizenship.They just were not fast enough getting their asses back out of the country.
IrelandNorth | Dec 12, 2011, 08:12 AM EST
If the current Irish government run yet another EU referendum, will they keep running it until they get the results that they want, like the previous administration of a la carte democrats. If there is a Nice/Lisbon III referendum, I trust the Irish will reject it decisively.
GeorgeDillon | Dec 11, 2011, 08:06 AM EST
pittsburghkid: I suggest you check out this morning's Sunday Independent newspaper on line. Look for an article headed "State facing €100m bill to fight 2,000 asylum seeker deportation injunctions". It's the most extraordinary article I've seen in years. Seems that Ireland will have to spend up to $140 million to FLY BACK to Ireland so-called refugee applicants who had been denied refugee status by the Irish system. The EU is insisting on it. There's no hope for Ireland, it's surrounded by hyenas from the rest of the world who want merely to tear it to pieces.
GeorgeDillon | Dec 11, 2011, 07:59 AM EST
CitizenWhy: "And don't you think Germany promised a break to Ireland when Enda allowed Germany to review and amend its budget before the Dail even saw it?" NO I certainly don't think that. There's not the slightest evidence for what you imply. It's nonsense.
sirpeter | Dec 10, 2011, 10:24 PM EST
Pittsburghkid.Relax.Lets see what happens.The GDP per Capita in Ireland is $48,517.The GDP per Capita in West Virginia $29,537.The highest GDP per Capita in the USA is Massachusetts at $49,082.It's ok.Don't believe everything you read.Most of us still have a few bucks hidden.It's the Irish way.
CitizenWhy | Dec 10, 2011, 06:21 PM EST
There will probably be no referendum, just a vote in the Dail. The "referendum" will come later in the form of elections for the Dail - one candidate for, one against. But meanwhile the Dail will have voted the Treaty amendments and the Constitutional additions in. ... And don't you think Germany promised a break to Ireland when Enda allowed Germany to review and amend its budget before the Dail even saw it? ... Once there is in place certain budget restrictions for each member country in the EuroZone, there are many ways to re-manage debt and even initiate some targeted stimuli (requiring approval of the new centralized Fiscal/Budget Authority). ... At some point when the EuroZone has some sort of centralized Executive (most likely an Authority or two with specific missions rather than a full fledged federal government), then the EU Parliament needs a review. Do the EuroZone members alone get to vote on EuroZone matters? I can't see letting the full EU Parliament make legislation for the EuroZone, which will in effect become a federation n within a federation. Perhaps there will two houses of the EU Parliament, one EuroZone only with authority over the EuroZone, and one with authority for the entire EU, but only on matters beyond the scope of the EuroZone agreements. .. The EU and the EuroZone can be made to work, no need for break up.
Pittsburghkid | Dec 10, 2011, 05:58 PM EST
Ireland might be poor with out the EU, but being in the EU won't stop Ireland from being poor. In the United States we have poor states, like West Virginia for example. Being in a EU or a USA doesn't guarentee wealth. The EU is imposing Globalist rules which will distroy Ireland. Already you have Africans claiming racism in Ireland. In America Globalism is flooding non-whites in to America with the claims of racism against America. Please save Ireland for the Irish, and dump the EU.
sirpeter | Dec 10, 2011, 05:50 PM EST
LOL @Georgie Boy.Tourette fu*king Syndrome.What the fu*k is that?Is that some-fu*kin'-thing you can catch in Tourette in France? ha-fu*kin-ha.Consult with your cats excrement all you want.Nobody could tell ye apart anyway.
GeorgeDillon | Dec 10, 2011, 03:11 PM EST
hasny07: "Without the EU, Ireland would still be the poorest country in Western Europe". Who the hell are you to tell us what would have happened if a decision made 40 years ago had been different? Who the hell appointed you soothsayer and clairvoyant? You're a nobody. All the evidence of your posts here shows you to be a fool whose opinion is worthless nonsense. I'd sooner consult my cat, or better still her excrement, if I were looking for signs and auguries about where Ireland might be if it had stayed out of the EU. Or maybe the simple thing would be to check out Norway and Switzerland...
GeorgeDillon | Dec 10, 2011, 03:05 PM EST
Curpeter (you hate that, don't you?) you're a stupid foul-mouthed fool. You resort to cursing because of your chronic inability to express yourself. Have you ever been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome? In this case, being Irish means you're just not used to having a Prime Minister who puts his country's interests before those of Germany and France. Your country has not had such a Prime Minister in living memory. You're a spineless slob, a disgusting cur. A lickspittle lump of putrid jelly, like your lousy Irish politicians. One British patriot like David Cameron is worth a million cap-tipping numbskulls like you. I wish I was in Ireland and I 'd kick you aside like I would kick any mangy cur. You'd yelp and whine, and slink away, because you're nothing but servile racist slime.
Dompedro | Dec 10, 2011, 03:03 PM EST
Let's see, we had a war that took up a good part of the 1870's, a war that lasted from 1914 to 1918 and a war took up half of the 1940's. Germany didn't reach its goals in any. Do we think that Germany will finally achieve it's destiny to rule all of Europe? Do we think that the Brits don't understand?
greensod | Dec 10, 2011, 02:06 PM EST
Opportunities present themselves on few occasions.Ireland is now staring at one in a life time.Support Cameron,he is doing what is right for the UK,Kenny needs to follow suite and do what is right for Ireland.The UK and Ireland can move forward with much more relaiable partners than the same old cronies in Europe thats only goal is to rule.
AustinBarry | Dec 10, 2011, 10:44 AM EST
Ireland's death spiral was caused, mostly, by the absurdity of a dead man and a drunken idiot signing a bank guarantee. At least Lenihan had the good grace to die, but the corpulent Biffo lives on. He should be suspended by heels on College Green and heavy penyata sticks handed out to the people he royally screwed.
haasny007 | Dec 10, 2011, 10:16 AM EST
Without the EU, Ireland would still be the poorest country in Western Europe. Ireland is surviving on a lifeline from Brussels right now. The EU is not the problem, it was the bad policies and poor regulation of the banking sector in Ireland and the other PIIGS countries that caused the mess that we are in. Most smart Irish people understand that, it's the ignorant and the dumb who don't get it. As for the Brits, they will be even more marginalized going forward. The Germans and French will be shaping the direction of the future EU while the Brits will be watching powerlessly from the sidelines. Britain will become even less useful for Washington and the "special relationship" less meaningful, if London has no longer any say in Brussels or influence in Berlin and Paris. These days US presidents are calling first Berlin, the economic center of Europe. Britain is shooting itself in the foot by isolating itself from the rest of Europe. It wouldn't be smart for Ireland to follow UK's lead in that respect, unless it wants to tie itself again in every way to its former colonial master.
AustinBarry | Dec 10, 2011, 08:22 AM EST
Cameron the cricketer has hooked Merkel's swinging bouncers for six and smashed Sarkozy's little googlies past his short-leg to the boundary. Well, played Sir.
sirpeter | Dec 09, 2011, 10:27 PM EST
To be honest Dano they are frightening times.How do you tell employees who 5 years ago borrowed half a million to buy a house and now have young kids that if this crap doesn't end soon their life's are going to come crashing down?Luckily I use thick-skinned Georgie as a whipping boy for the failings of the economy.I don't know what I would do if he starting talking sense.
DanOLoingsigh | Dec 09, 2011, 07:51 PM EST
Sirpete - I agree. It could also break his coalition, but that could also give him a majority if he calls an election - and maybe the Scots will want to cut and run. Interesting times ahead...
aloistmartin | Dec 09, 2011, 06:29 PM EST
All The English want is The Front Seat ~
sirpeter | Dec 09, 2011, 04:44 PM EST
Go fu*k yourself Georgie Boy.I'll give you spineless.You don't know what you are talking about as usual.An isolated Britain outside a new treaty will cause huge problems for the British Government. High stakes poker for a two speed Europe. If this stops the Huns from trying to kill us all yet again somehow then David Cameron is going to have to be a bit more flexible.You do know that financial service regulations are decided by the system of qualified majority voting in which Britain does not have a veto. Britain can form a "blocking minority" at the moment to stop harmful legislation.But this will shrink as more countries join the euro. This is a sop to his little Englander backbenchers and the City and nothing else.
GeorgeDillon | Dec 09, 2011, 02:41 PM EST
I admire Cameron for standing up for his country. The spineless servile Irish will just say : "How high, monsieur?" when Sarkozy tells them to jump.