Vote should be final

IT seems increasingly likely that the European reform treaty, which replaces the European constitution, will not be put to the people in 26 of the 27 EU countries, instead being passed inparliament.

Thanks to Raymond Crotty in 1987, Ireland is required to hold a referendum. The scene in June 2001, when the Taoiseach apologised to European leaders for the Irish public giving the ‘wrong’ answer, was nothing short of ridiculous, and his instruction to vote the right way the following year was highly patronising. Ahead of next year’s referendum on the reform treaty, I invite the Government to commit that whatever answer they receive, they will proudly pass it on to the European institutions as the will of the people of the Republic of Ireland.

Thomas Ralph