British Democracy Forum - View Single Post - "Secret deal to persuade Ireland on EU Treaty" (claim)

Tony Bennett · 06-05-2008, 10:56 AM

RECENT IRISH OPINION POLL - ONLY 35% WILL VOTE YES

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DUBLIN:

The Irish government's campaign for a "Yes" vote in a referendum on the EU's key Lisbon Reform Treaty has suffered a sharp reversal according to a poll in the Sunday Business Post newspaper.

The survey results show a significant shift in public opinion against the treaty, ahead of the June 12 vote.

The Red C tracking poll shows the number of Irish citizens who are planning to vote "Yes" ****has dropped to 35 per cent, down eight points**** on the company's previous poll two months ago.

Some 31 percent of Irish citizens said they would vote "No", an increase of seven points. The number of undecided’s had increased by one point to 34 per cent.

The poll findings could send shockwaves through European Union capitals. Ireland is the only one of the 27 EU nations to vote on it, and could scupper the treaty altogether.

In 2001, Ireland shocked the EU when it rejected the bloc's previous Nice Treaty on institutional reform and enlargement. That decision was reversed in another referendum.

The Lisbon Treaty - replacing the bloc's doomed constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 - was agreed last December amid much fanfare.

It aims to prevent decision-making gridlock in the expanding bloc. The poll results will be a headache for incoming prime minister Brian Cowen as the Irish government would have hoped for a more favourable outcome following visits to the country earlier this month by high-profile EU figures aimed at boosting the "Yes" vote campaign.

European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso have all made trips to Dublin and, while stressing they would not presume to tell the Irish people how to vote, have strongly endorsed the treaty.

European Affairs Minister Dick Roche said that the poll findings "while disappointing, are not entirely surprising".

"But it is still very early days in the campaign and it is very much all to play for."

Roche said that as soon as a law to facilitate the plebiscite has been passed by both houses of parliament, "the political campaign proper will get under way and that, undoubtedly, will have a positive impact."

David Cochrane, campaign director for one of the main Irish opposing groups Libertas, welcomed the poll results.

"We believe our concerns over taxation, democracy and accountability are resonating.

"We are focusing on discussing facts, whilst the yes side can only talk about how great Europe has been for Ireland. We agree that Europe's been great for Ireland, and that's why we feel this should be preserved by a no vote," Cochrane said.

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Source: Times of India, 28 Apr 2008

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06-05-2008, 10:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tony Bennett Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 879	% certain to vote 'Yes' down from 43% to 35% RECENT IRISH OPINION POLL - ONLY 35% WILL VOTE YES ============================================= DUBLIN: The Irish government's campaign for a "Yes" vote in a referendum on the EU's key Lisbon Reform Treaty has suffered a sharp reversal according to a poll in the Sunday Business Post newspaper. The survey results show a significant shift in public opinion against the treaty, ahead of the June 12 vote. The Red C tracking poll shows the number of Irish citizens who are planning to vote "Yes" **has dropped to 35 per cent, down eight points** on the company's previous poll two months ago. Some 31 percent of Irish citizens said they would vote "No", an increase of seven points. The number of undecided’s had increased by one point to 34 per cent. The poll findings could send shockwaves through European Union capitals. Ireland is the only one of the 27 EU nations to vote on it, and could scupper the treaty altogether. In 2001, Ireland shocked the EU when it rejected the bloc's previous Nice Treaty on institutional reform and enlargement. That decision was reversed in another referendum. The Lisbon Treaty - replacing the bloc's doomed constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 - was agreed last December amid much fanfare. It aims to prevent decision-making gridlock in the expanding bloc. The poll results will be a headache for incoming prime minister Brian Cowen as the Irish government would have hoped for a more favourable outcome following visits to the country earlier this month by high-profile EU figures aimed at boosting the "Yes" vote campaign. European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso have all made trips to Dublin and, while stressing they would not presume to tell the Irish people how to vote, have strongly endorsed the treaty. European Affairs Minister Dick Roche said that the poll findings "while disappointing, are not entirely surprising". "But it is still very early days in the campaign and it is very much all to play for." Roche said that as soon as a law to facilitate the plebiscite has been passed by both houses of parliament, "the political campaign proper will get under way and that, undoubtedly, will have a positive impact." David Cochrane, campaign director for one of the main Irish opposing groups Libertas, welcomed the poll results. "We believe our concerns over taxation, democracy and accountability are resonating. "We are focusing on discussing facts, whilst the yes side can only talk about how great Europe has been for Ireland. We agree that Europe's been great for Ireland, and that's why we feel this should be preserved by a no vote," Cochrane said. -------- Source: Times of India, 28 Apr 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------