Should Ireland allow itself to be bullied by the EU...?

Question

With numerous threats of expulsion unless Ireland holds a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and delivers a yes vote, is it acceptable for a sovereign country to be bullied in this manner?

Answer 1

No is no.

Answer 2

The EU can try but the Irish have always had a rebel heart and will continue to defy them.

Unlike in the UK the Irish elect their leaders to represent them not go off on some flight of personal fancy.Gordon Brown please note.

Answer 3

This was a binding referendum put to the people of Ireland, and as they voted NO i believe the EU should listen to its members and either amend or veto the Treaty

Answer 4

I'd say the sovereign country of Ireland's done pretty well for itself since joining the E.U. & I thought that giving up some of it's sovereignty in exchange for the economic advantages was part of the deal from the start.

  What makes you think you can have it both ways?

Answer 5

yes..they should cave in to the elitists who are trying to form a one world government. Let them act like the rest of the sheep of europe, those w/o a spine and who'd rather eat their children (true story) than raise them with morals.

Answer 6

If any country doesn't hold to the ideals in the EU, why belong to it.  EU membership is voluntary.

Answer 7

But, first of all, do you know what the Lisbon Treaty is about? What is the implication of the "no" vote?

And if the Irish want to be so sovereign, why did they join the EU? It was done after a referendum, too, where the majority of population voted "yes". So, being a EU member means giving up a part of sovereignty in exchange for economic benefits (internal market, regional development aids, agriculture aids etc.), the freedom to travel, study, work, invest and live wherever in EU 27 member states.

Not the least, being part of EU means being solidary with the others. And Irish got a lot of benefits of the inter-EU solidarity so far.  Now, how fair is that less than 1 million people hold back almost 500 millions?

Those who went to vote should have been a bit more responsible and tried to find out what really means their vote. And keep in mind that the campaign was done by your own Government, not by the EU - this is the rule in every member state.

Answer 8

No, it is unacceptable, and the leaders in Ireland, and in other EU countries, need to stand up and tell Germany and France this. After all, today they are threatening Ireland - what is to stop them doing the same to us, or another EU country, tomorrow?

Answer 9

No it's not right for Ireland to allow the EU bully us, but with the likes of Brian Cowen as Taoiseach, the peasantry's he displays on a regular basis when it comes to the EU (and in general to be honest) of course Ireland will be bullied and there will be a second referendum.  And like the second referendum held on the Nice Treaty the votes will be interfered with and a yes vote will be rang out.

From an Irish person unhappy with the Irish Government and don't trust them on/with anything.

Answer 10

Let's see for one second the facts on the Lisbon vote in Ireland.

1: It was only won by 6.8%

2: Huge numbers voted no because they said it hadn't been explained properly.

3: The proportion voting no for such a reason was greater than 6.8%.

4: Therefore a second referendum after more time and a lot more effort into actually explaining it could change the result.

With this in mind it is logical to hold a second referendum and that is what a large number of no voters were expecting.

Right so I get thumbs down from the British for being Irish and wanting a second vote. Did I say which side of the vote I was on? No I didn't because it is unimportant. The Vote was decided on the grounds that there was not enough known about it so get more information out and then let it go to the vote again. That would be the fair thing to do for both sides. Look at the bloody facts and think about what I'm saying before giving me a thumbs down simply because you support the no campaign.

Answer 11

I' m with Ireland on this.

Of course Ireland should stick up for her right to self government & tell these Europofile jobsworth beaurocrats to feck off

Wasn't Ireland bullied for long enough by English?

Answer 12

Just what part of NO do they not understand?

Answer 13

i think that's its totally ridiculous for us to have voted no and for our vote not be respected, why ask us to vote in first place if they were going to try bully the decision out of us by trying to force a referendum on us again, if it happens i hope that this is turned down again as stand that we will not be bullied by anyone and no means no

why is everyone picking on ireland, France, Spian, Netherlands, Italy, Czech rep, Belguim have not ratified the treaty yet either, so why not pick on all of them too and leave us alone

Answer 14

I'm sure that Ireland will give as good as it gets. hopefully this treaty is dead.

Answer 15

Ireland isn't the only country this has ever happened to and they wouldn't be the first to ignore them either.

Answer 16

No Ireland should not. They are a bloody minded glorious independant nation.  I am sorry to say that they saw off us  British at the height of our Imperial Power.  I'm sure they can deal with a corrupt and mismanaged European Community with greater ease

Answer 17

Definitely not, call the corrupt EUs bluff to expel you. The voting process was done fairly, they cannot impose another referendum on you simply because the vote went against them, that just proves what a corrupt bunch of dictators they are. If I were Irish I would be kicking up a proverbial stink about this whole issue. Slainte.

Answer 18

No they have had enough control from the british in the past they should do what they feel is best for their country without being dictated to by anyone else.

Im british and stand by whatever the irish decide is best for them.