Martin welcomes 'overwhelming' Yes vote

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin today denied Ireland had begrudgingly voted 'Yes' to the Lisbon Treaty because of fears over the economy.

'No' campaigners claimed the massive swing behind the EU reform deal was down to a threat of further isolation from the union that would plunge the country deeper into crisis.

But Mr Martin insisted voters, who rejected the treaty at the first time of asking last year, were reassured by legal guarantees on the key concerns of tax, neutrality, abortion and retaining a commissioner.

“It was an overwhelming vote for the Lisbon Treaty,” he said.

Mr Martin said Irish voters had shown in previous referenda an ability to act in the national interest.

“The people... have demonstrated a capacity to differentiate between domestic political issues and the issue of Europe and Ireland’s relationship with Europe,” he told RTE radio.

Attention has now shifted to Poland and the Czech Republic to fast-track the ratification of the treaty, after Ireland’s two-thirds majority in favour of the charter.

Only Poland, which is expected to rubber-stamp the treaty within days, and the Czech Republic, where there is a legal challenge, have yet to formally accept the deal.

The Irish constitutional requirement for a referendum was seen as the main hurdle to a massive raft of changes to how the 27-member union was run.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s attention has turned back to domestic issues, with Fianna Fáil is in talks with the Green Party to hammer out a new programme for government.

They are facing major challenges in reforming the banking industry, with the setting up of NAMA and drawing up a Budget expected to slash public spending.

Sinn Féin, the only main political party to oppose the Lisbon Treaty, said those who promised a 'Yes' vote would create jobs must now deliver.

Party vice president Mary Lou McDonald said it would continue to campaign on behalf of the more than half a million people who voted against the reform deal.

More than 1.2 million people voted in favour of the treaty this time round – a 20% swing since the shock rejection last year.

Only the two Donegal constituencies on the north-west tip of Ireland said 'No' on this occasion.

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso spoke by phone to the Taoiseach to congratulate him on the result.

“The Irish people have spoken. They have said a resounding Yes to Europe. Thank you Ireland. It is a great day both for Ireland and for Europe,” he said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also welcomed the emphatic result.

In the wake of the 'Yes' vote, Mr Cowen said former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would be given Irish backing if he stood for European President.

“Obviously we’ll wait and see if, in fact, he is a candidate but you can take it we will be very supportive,” he said.