Irish Echo News

The fate of almost 500 million EU citizens will be in the hands of Irish voters when they go to the polls in the Lisbon Treaty referendum on Thursday.

Ireland is the only EU country to hold a national vote on the controversial charter because it has to amend its constitution in order to ratify it.

An increasingly bitter campaign between the Yes and No sides has left many voters confused - and the Government is fearful the complex 287-page document could be rejected like the first Nice Treaty in 2001.

The referendum is the first political test of new premier Brian Cowen who has accused the No side of peddling misinformation to create confusion.

The Government’s worst fears were realised last week when an opinion poll put the No side ahead of the Yes campaigners for the first time. More than a third of voters were still undecided.

Mr Cowen warned Ireland will be marginalised within Europe and the wider international community if voters say no.

The Yes side include mainstream political parties as well as business groups, most trade unions and farmers.

The No side is fronted by multi-millionaire businessman Declan Ganley who originally set up his Libertas group to block the EU Constitution in 2004.

Libertas claims the Treaty will strip Ireland of its influence at EU level and will allow Brussels to interfere in Irish laws and taxes.

Other No campaigners such as Sinn Fein and anti-war groups suggest the charter would compromise Ireland’s neutrality if it signs up to European defence policy.

The Yes campaign - which includes the mainstream Dail parties - claims there is no ‘Plan B’ and the Treaty cannot be re-negotiated again if rejected.

Mr Cowen said ratification will protect Ireland’s interests in the global economy and lead to more streamlined EU decision-making.

Sinn Fein claims that losing an EU Commissioner for five out of every 15 years is unacceptable but Mr Cowen said there weren’t enough portfolios for the 27 office-holders from each member state.

The Lisbon Treaty grew out of the EU Constitution which Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern helped broker in 2004 - but it was rejected a year later by voters in France and Holland.

The Irish Government suffered embarrassment in 2001 when voters rejected the Nice Treaty - but it was passed a year later.

The Lisbon Treaty is due to come into force on January 1 if voters vote yes this week.

Watch a ‘No Vote’ advertisement here.

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