the IRISH spoke!

The Irish people spoke and by Friday afternoon we had the answer - we wouldn't be railroaded into accepting a less-democratic EUROPE.

The Irish are pro-Europe - this vote was not a rejection of Europe but a clear signal about the type of Europe we want to shape for ourselves and our European neighbours.

The attitude of major players such as Germany and France proves the sentiment we all saw hidden within the text of the LISBON TREATY - they are not interested in the voice of smaller members. In fact they are not even interested in the voice of their own citizens as witnessed by a determination to prevent public voting in their respective jurisdictions. When the French public voted against the European Constitution (as did the Dutch) it was re-written so it could be ratified by parliament without the irksome need to consult their peoples.

SARKOZY and MERKEL seem ignorant of the fact that the Irish voted in determination, that we took our responsibility extremely seriously (witnessed by an uncharacteristically high turn-out of the electorate) because we knew this was a major issue we were singly deciding for Europe as a whole. Yet they're already looking for loopholes that would allow them push forward even though the legal position is that the Treaty was required to be ratified in all 27 member states. They would do well to tone-down their arrogance or risk alienating greater numbers of pro-Europeans who will react against moves by an autonomous elite.

What part of democracy do they not understand?