Ireland Votes for the European Union Treaty of Lisbon

Last week, Ireland voted in favor of the European Union's Lisbon treaty, which will modernize the structure of the European Union. The agreement was passed 67.13 percent to 32.87 percent. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen proclaimed victory as the votes were counted on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. He stated, "we have done the right thing for our own future and the future of our children," according to CNN. "Today the Irish people have spoken with a clear and resounding voice. This is a good day for Ireland and a good day for Europe. We as a nation have take a decisive step for a stronger, fairer and better Ireland, and a stronger, fairer and better Europe," he went on to say. The treaty aimed at streamlining the European Unions decision making, where more decisions will be made by the majority vote rather than unanimity. Previously, it was ratified by all member states except Czech Republic, Ireland, and Poland. The treaty was previously rejected in June 2008 by a margin of almost 7 percent. The Republic of Ireland is the only one of the European Union's 27 member states to put the treaty to a referendum. This is in large due to the recession that greatly affected Ireland's economy since the last vote. About 3 million Irish citizens were eligible to vote on Friday, Oct. 2. Turnout in Dublin averaged 44 percent, a larger turnout than other areas of Ireland. Prime Minister Brian Cowen urged voters to go to the pools, "It is an important day for the country and an important referendum…I'd ask everybody, we all have rights as citizens, and one of the rights that should be cherished is our right to vote." Ratifying the treaty brings some major changes within the European Union. It aims to establish a new post of president of the European Council, a grouping of European states' leaders, and a high representative for foreign affairs. The European Union has assured Ireland that the treaty would not affect the country's anti-abortion laws or its neutrality. Also, Ireland would still keep a European commissioner. These were some of the issues that led to citizens to vote against the treaty last time. In opposition, Declan Ganley, leader of the Libitas Party, campaigned of a "no" vote. He offered his congratulations to Cowen, and stated, "I'm not saying I admire the campaign that said that there would be jobs and economic recovery from a yes vote, but I politically admire a masterful campaign from a masterful politician who has made absolute glove puppets our of the opposition." Ireland is not in good shape from an economic standpoint, therefore many voters were unwilling to risk further turmoil with another "no" vote. The global recession has hurt Ireland more than many other countries, wiping out much of the economic gains of the last several years and leaving thousands of people to unemployed. "The collapse of the economy between the two votes was the most significant factor in changing Irish people's minds, because it became clear that their membership in the euro protected them from financial collapse," said Hugo Brady, a senior analyst with the London-based Center for European Reform.The treaty runs to more than 300 pages, and provides for a European Union president and a foreign minister to raise the coalition's profile in diplomatic circles. Also, it calls for strengthening military preparedness, streamlining decision-making procedures and strengthening cooperation to fight problems such as crime and climate change. Ireland was the only European Union member whose citizens were allowed to vote on the treaty. In other countries national parliaments would ratify the treaty for its people. Ireland's constitution mandates that citizens be allowed to vote on any major changes to its own governmental structure.