To Kevin Ryan :)

That's what 's I call a " pro-European" stance. i couldn't agree more...let's tie the knot as you say; We are the same family, right?

pascal-pierre, Dinan/ Brittany, European Union (France)

As England and Germany pay for everything anyway, why dont they just cede from the EU and form a 'Saxon Union' with zero VAT and 10% income tax? (Apologies to my Celtic in-laws). I'm even willing to agree that no English players are allowed to weaken the federal football squad.

Eric Skelton, Cardiff, Wales

Kevin Ryan's right. We Europeans must hang together or assuredly we'll hang separately. We can't compete on equal terms with China and India now, and with Brazil and others tomorrow, if we don't get our act together. Dearly-won Irish independence won't mean much if Europe sinks to 3rd world status.

JF, Canterbury, UK

To Paul in Coventry,

Ireland didn't "vote" to secede from the union - it took several hundred years and countless armed rebellions to realise it. Perhaps a greater irony, now that the UK looks to Ireland to vote NO to Lisbon and to protect it from the EU bogeyman.

Damien, Dublin,

Europe did help us but we gave away our fish stocks. Europe gets 93% of a €5billion/year industry and has done for 25 years. We got €40/50billion cash in return. We have earned our rights in Europe.
A no vote is for democracy, 1% of europe should not be allowed give pseudo validity to this treaty.

john, dublin, ireland

It should be the other way round, "What is the EU going to do for us ?" In Britains case very little of use has been done so far except irritate the natives who have spent the last forty years sharpening their spears. Our roads are falling to pieces, despite the vastness of our taxes. Soon we walk

Phil de Buquet, Newport,

It is ironic the amount of British people hoping for an Irish 'no' vote when the only reason that Irish people have that right to that vote is because the Republic voted to secede from the UK in the first place and hence have its own written constitution, something that we have never had.

Paul, Coventry,

I'll be voting No. I'm not happy that several points are "to be decided at a later date". The rest is uninteligible. If Lisbon is so important, all the details should have been in place prior to us voting on it. If it is rejected, we won't be kicked out and the gravy train will still roll.

Caroline, Wexford, Ireland

It's not really a question of "what has the EU done for us". It's rather a question of "why doesn't the EU listen to its people"? What is at stake here is the transformation of the EU into a democratic institution, in which the people have a say, and not just elitist Commissioners and heads of state

John, Trieste, Italy

When buying insurance it's sensible to read the small print because the devil is in the detail. The ConTreaty is no different. It's deliberately difficult to understand because that's where the 'catches' are. If you don't understand a legal document you shouldn't sign it. Same with this. Vote NO.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

I've never been to Ireland. Who would I trust if I were Irish and an EU member state? What's this Lisbon treaty all about? I've never heard of that either.

Grady M Revis III, Arvada, USA

Most of our roads, rail network, river crossing bridges, ports, stately homes, government buildings were built under the English - not the EU. We didn't fight them out of ingratitude, rather a desire to decide what is best for ourselves.

I want to trade and travel - not discuss social issues.

Richard, Ireland,

As a Brit expat in Athens, I recall Ireland's "No" on Cyprus's entry to the EU until Brussels came up with a sweetener. No doubt they will re-play that particular game. That said, they deserve credit in offering a referendum and the 1937 Irish consitution is much clearer on civil rights than Lisbon.

Dr David Green, Athens, Greece

Low tar is as dangerous for the health as high tar, just less taste. A man who accedes to a contract he can't understand, and which can't be understood is a fool. Those politicians who say they understand it are either ubermensch or liars. Being politicians the latter choice is considered axiomatic

Bill Q, Derby,

I believe that Ireland should vote yes on Thursday. The real threat to Ireland, Britain and all of Europe over the next 50 years will be from China and India. Now is not the time to fight with the family, now is the time to end the engagement and go and tie this knot once and for all.

Kevin Ryan, Galway City, Irish Republic

The public of Eire could will go down in history as being the second most sensible nation within Europe if they reject the Lisbon Treaty. The other one who did is Switzerland - referenda are a regular feature of its diirect democracy - and their electorate have always been keen on self reliance.

Robert El-Cid, Hull., East Yorks.,

Also Ireland & Britain have civil rights unheard of in Europe, such as the right to home-school (in Germany it's totally illegal and the children are taken into care for educational neglect!) and I'm scared of losing those rights.

Tracy, Tipperary, Ireland

The Irish shouldn't even need to have this vote, it is not, as Fintan O'toole would have us believe, different, it's the constitution, just harder to understand. The corruption riddled democratically deficient eu won't accept this, they just want more power to be handed to the unelected commission.

Barry Davies, Stafford, U. K.

Wake up there Tom in Dublin! Ireland can do (an awful lot) better than pander to the flatearth prejudices of British eurosceptics.

Maeve, Cork,

Louisa (vote YES!), London, UK - you insult both the Irish constitution and the democratic process by referring to the referendum as a 'legal loophole'

Adele, Frankfurt,

Lord Pattern talked at Magdelan College, Oxford calling the Constitutional Treaty the European Constitutional Treaty and that we would fall into an abyss if failed, there was no alternative to the treaty and then we had the Lisbon Treaty.

Susan James, oxford, uk

There still hasn't been put forth a strong argument to vote Yes. The arguments for No are much stronger. Remember the brave men and women who sacrificed much to break the yoke of submission. Don't go backwards.

Tom, Dublin,

Mr. O Toole has rehearsed every argument in the "ungrateful" box. Perhaps the Irish have read the treaty and believe it a bad one, as did the French about constitution. The pushers of this treaty, the big nations, have never acted except in their own interests, why should the small not follow suit.

Raoul Morris, Canterbury,

Scotland does have a seat at the EU table, it's labelled 'United Kingdom'.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

Very good article.Valerie:the reason we have to vote is because the Irish constitution is different to those of other European countries and so,under Irish law, issues which can be decided by government in other coutries must, in Ireland,be put to the electorate in a referendum.It's a legal loophole

Louisa (vote YES!), London, UK

Why would anyone vote yes to an institution set up by the political elite to enable them and their families to have a life of ease and pleasure at the expense of all the workers who to slog it out 24/7 just to get by. This treaty will give these control freaks even more power of our lives.

D Case, Newquay,

The treaty is almost impossible to follow - that it no accident.

The original constitution clearly spelt out what the new treaty seeks to do. When people saw what this was, they rejected it.

The words have changed, the meaning is the same.

NEVER accept an agreement that you don't understand

Paul, brighton, UKI

I don't care whether the Eurocrats multiply loaves and little fishes in their spare time. Europeans have been saying 'enough' for some time now. Ireland has the chance to send a message to Brussels that most of us have been denied.

Mark, Berkhamsted,

Ireland is not the last ditch defence against the Treaty, don't forget there is a Judicial Review underway, and the Lords have not yet had their say, so there's hope yet.

jeremiah, London,

No is the only way to Vote The EU has abanond us all they are only instrest in how many million euros they can line their own pockets with in MEP allowneces, We should not only vote NO, but all so put an end to this mess and end the political part of the EU.

Mr W Jones, Liverpool, England

Having now read the thing I can say it's a darn sight better than the former proposed Constitution and contains important Irish and UK, Danish, Polish opt-outs secured in the face of possible rejection. Ireland today bears a panEuropean veto: over to you Ireland, read it up and vote with conscience!

Mike L, Chippenham, Wilts

(sings)

"And Ireland, once a nation, be
A province once agaaaaaaain"

(pulls at pint)

Thon Brocket, Belfast,

Well, now the Irish people are the last ones with the chance to rescue democracy in the whole EU. Rescue? Yes, even compared to Germany, where people had no vote on important matters like the Lisbon treaty, it's a backstep in democracy. At least to the Germany of now, in 1933 it was a bit different.

Daniel Schupp, Aachen, Germany

have constantly been lied to by our Euroaddict leaders. What we have now is far beyond the "closer economic ties" we were lead to believe was the prospect. People of Ireland can do a massive favour for all of Europe. Vote NO and bring the bureaucratic juggernaught to a shuddering halt

david, london,

Underneath the bloody-mindedness and the fear, there is a genuine unease about what is happening here. Why are we the only Europeans voting on this reformed EU constitution, for that is surely what it is? Something's rotten in the state of Denmark ... and all the other states too. Should we oblige?

Valerie Whelan , Bray , Ireland

"what have the Romans ever done for us?" - havent heard this reason for voting no FROM ANYONE. Big reason for NO I have heard is "I dont understand it, ill vote no". The feeling that this should be voted on by all Euro Citizens is big, shouldnt be just us. And how undemocratic for europe the latter!

aidan o driscoll, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, Ireland

This articles inference that it's an - either or - choice for the Irish is stupid.

The Irish farmers CAP subsidies won't stop and the multi-nationals won't suddenly dissapear leaving the tumbleweeds blowing through Irish success. The unpopular treaty will fail -that's all. Not the end of the EU!

Dale, Australia,

Strange that the Irish are so wiling to have their national, cultural and ethnic identities destroyed. You only have to look at the English premiership to see what becomes of the native English when there are no borders. The Irish will become a people without a homeland.

Paul, Southampton, England

Fintan.

France and the Netherlands like the UK are big net contributors to the EU coffers.

Hence I cast my no vote vicariously for the citizenry of the net contributors - not because I feel our farmers have been abandoned by eastward expansion, the WTO negotiations or quite necessary CAP reform.

Bryan O'Donoghue, Dublin, Ireland

Don't forget that Eurovision dumped Dustin. If they can't pick an Irish song, why should the Irish sing a Euro-tune?

David Kirwan, Sale, Cheshire

Excellent article! And I can assure you Fintan that when the British taxpayer is for paying roads in Estonia AND roads in County Mayo, EU solidarity looks very unappetising indeed!

Pauline Renton, Camberley, UK