No vote on Nice derails treaty

The no vote in the referendum is tonight set to block enlargement of the European Union.

The worst fears of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and his cabinet - that a near-record low poll would lead to rejection of the treaty - looked certain to be justified as almost all of the 41 constituencies recorded No votes.

The omens appeared on Thursday night when it became clear that only around 30% of the electorate had taken part in a triple referendum that also sought to remove all reference to long-redundant capital punishment from the written constitution and approve the establishment of the International Criminal Court.

Mr Ahern warned in advance that a low poll would boost the No lobby in the face of a campaign in favour of Nice mounted by his government, the main parliamentary opposition parties, the Roman Catholic Church and the leaders of both sides of industry.

His concern was borne out when negative signals began appearing minutes after the start of this morning’s counting.

Ireland was the only EU member to stage a referendum on the European issue, and the poll result meant that implementation of the treaty - which allows for the community’s recruitment of 12 central and eastern European states - will be delayed.

It is now probable that the Government will have to renegotiate the treaty with Brussels, where the emerging figures were greeted with a mixture of ‘‘surprise, shock and panic’’ according to officials.

An immediate political inquest was opened into the government’s failure to successfully steer the treaty through the referendum process.

Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, who saw his own Laois-Offaly constituency join the No vote list, said: ‘‘I am absolutely disappointed at what has happened. We will now have to go back to Europe and talk to our partners again. It is not an ideal situation.’’

The minister added: ‘‘A great deal of misinformation put about by the No campaigners has been partially responsible for this. And the low turnout was also to blame.’’

Labour Party opposition leader Ruairi Quinn directly criticised Mr Ahern for the way he handled the referendum campaign, declaring: ‘‘In my view the blame lies at the door of the Government. But we must accept what the people say.’’

Mr Quinn said he believed enlargement could now be delayed for up to three years because of the Irish vote.

Opposition to the Nice treaty, based on fears about its consequences for Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality, was mounted by a number of smaller parties, among them Sinn Fein.

Their leader Gerry Adams commented: ‘‘People have indicated that they care about the future of this island and the future relationship with the European Union.

‘‘The Government tried to rush through the referendum without a debate. They tried to do it quietly.’’

He added ‘‘The Government needs to listen to what the people are saying. We are for a better European Union - it is not that we are against enlargement or the EU per se.’’

The referendum opposition also includes an organisation called No to Nice, claimed by Mr Ahern earlier this week to be funded by American right-wing fundamentalists.

The result of the votes on the capital punishment and International Criminal Court issues are due to be declared later today.