Irish referendum 2009 - voting underway

Ireland votes on Lisbon Treaty

Article published on the 2009-10-02 Latest update 2009-10-02 09:51 TU

Presiding officer Hugh O'Donnell and police officer Barry McCann carry the ballot box used to collect votes on the island of Inishfree, County Donegal on 30 September 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

Polling got underway in Ireland on Friday in a crucial referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

If passed, the treaty could pave the way for long-delayed structural reforms of the European Union to come into force.

It is the second referendum held on the treaty in Ireland, after it was rejected by 53.4 per cent of voters in June last year. The Irish government agreed to hold another poll after securing guarantees on neutrality, abortion and taxation.

Opinion polls suggest that a majority of the three million eligible voters will vote in favour this time. That would come as a relief to European heads of state who have seen attempts to reform the way the EU operates repeatedly delayed in recent years.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has warned that a second No vote would marginalise the country and severely damage its efforts to emerge from a deep recession.

But supporters of a No vote argue that the Lisbon Treaty would undermine national sovereignty. Many people upset over the dramatic collapse of the once-booming economy could also use the referendum as a way of damaging Cowen’s unpopular government.

Ireland is the only country constitutionally obliged to put the treaty to a referendum. Of 27 EU states, Poland and the Czech Republic have also yet to ratify it. Counting will start on Saturday, with results possibly becoming available by as early as the afternoon.

On France 24 TV  Irish referendum dossier