Rejection of treaty may serve as a rallying call

The Government’s decision to hold a vote on Europe’s new fiscal treaty adds some much-needed risk to the seeming inevitably of the euro bailout steamroller.

While turkeys have on occasion voted for Christmas, especially if told a “no” vote will only bring the feast day forward, Irish voters have reason to be furious and also have a track record of rejecting EU initiatives.

Ireland alone can’t block the treaty, which will come into force if adopted by a quorum of 12 EU states, but a rejection might serve as a rallying point for those disaffected by the crisis resolution process.