just look at the chaos on the stock market&ask urself would u like the lisbon treaty, if ireland voted yes the EU would use the credit crunch to mark its stamp on europe& run roughshod over individual countrys economic plans, im irish i voted no because i had a sence this sub prime crisis was V.BIG!

Patrick O'Shea, Meath, Ireland

CIA eh? Hmmm, how many times did they fail to overthrow President Fidel Castro? The main reason behind the Irish people voting no is that they are a well educated and well read nation who have historicaly suffered at the hands of foreign nations. They have a WRITTEN constitution! not a magna carta!

Kris, Peterborough, England

a juvenile red herring tactic,to distract from the fact that EU always loses elections with the people. This is not because Euro voters (or at least those allowed to vote in France, NL, & Irel.) are stupid. Its bc most of those who give a damn enough to bother to vote have seen the EU for what it is

mike, austin,

Just read the book 'The Great Deception' , the book which blows the lid off the Great EU Coverup! At last the EU is beginning to break up, at long last (and it took the Irish to have enough guts to start it) the people are saying NO! The corrupt MEPs of Brussels will hopefully someday be jailed .

Hugh, Buckfastleigh, England

Unhappily for us, we citizens of the EU, the eu mps just dont get it. Corruption abounds in the EU parliament, no qualified accounts for 13 years! Constitution proposal completely incomprehensible for 99% of the people!!! Trust us we know what we're doing they tell us.It's a joke.
TG for the Irish

stefan, paris,

Genti - Europe is divided already, by race, language, culture, architecture, and long may it remain that way. You completely miss the point that the EU is an undemocratic behemoth driven by French & German politicians. It is a corrupt white elephant. That said, should the CIA be involved-maybe not.

Paul C, Harlow, England (Not EU)

This is just a clever trick to get a future yes vote out of Ireland. Anybody with any sense knows that the same interest groups that run the EU also run the US. Apparently they don't yet control Ireland, so everyone should be looking to Ireland as the last hope of republican liberty.

James, Dana Point,

This is pure propaganda. The CIA and the people in D.C. don't want a sovereign Ireland. Stop detracting from what the Irish were able to accomplish on their own.

Rodney Hampton, DeWitt Michigan , US

Oh, jesus! Now these Pro-Europeans are in denial, they can't get over that the Irish said no, there blaming us now. It sounds like that they want a United States of Europe.

I feel sad for you Europeans.

James McCullough, Queens, New York, United States of America

There is no doubt the USA does what it can to try to remain the world's sole economic and military superpower.

Maybe the CIA did help fund opposition to the treaty. Maybe the CIA helped fund Tony Blair's re-election.

But regardless, it was the voters of the country that made the decision.

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

So, a 'Green MEP' claims to believe that the Irish got CIA help in rejecting the Treaty!? That excuse for the Irish 'no' vote is one of the most transparent Br'er Rabbit tactics I have ever heard. But of course Green politicians world-wide show themselves to be fascist wolves in sheep's clothing.

Steven, Lincoln, New Zealand

Isn't Ireland in the middle of a recession partly because of the decision to surrender their control of monetary policy to the Eurozone? That alone should be enough reason for them to want to reject further advancement of the EU.

Alguien, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The CIA serves Rome and its scheme is not to thwart the EU, but rather to serve the Vatican's goal of eventually running the EU by setting up Catholic Ireland in the position of holding the entire EU hostage to certain religious demands favourable to the "Holy See". Just wait and see.

William Cooper, Palehorse, Arizona

None of these theories even allows for the possibility that the Irish people looked seriously at the issues, and made a rational decision. After centuries of struggling for indepedance, they are being asked relinquish their sovereignty to an entity of which they comprise a mere 1%.

Brian, Detroit, U.S.

At least Ireland's constitution protected its democracy even at watered-downTreaty of Lisbon level.

Are we to assume the CIA scuppered the new EU Constitution itself by influencing the French and Dutch No votes? Cohn-Bendit & Poettering should first look closer to home for "people to destabilise a strong and autonomous Europe”

Mike L, Chippenham,

This is nothing but 'Yes' propaganda!
The US have are only interested in a YES vote, to further globalisation and the centralisation of power in much fewer hands.
Although the CIA aren't exactly a reliable source for information, they may be right in saying that these claims are "ludicrous"!

Ciaran Gallagher, Derry, Northern Ireland

Yes, blame the CIA.. Ive read on these very pages how inept you claim they are, but when something goes wrong in the world, these fantastic accusations are blamed on the CIA. As much as the Irish seems to hate the USA on these pages, at least they can think for themselves. Its the EU fault, not USA

William, Atlanta, USA

What? The Irish don't want what Brussels is shoving down their throats? It must be a CIA plot! Hilarious! No worries, though Ireland... Brussels will keep holding polls until they get their desired result. Looks like EU/US gov'ts have ALL gone stupid. Sheesh. What a time to be alive.

marko, San Francisco, USA

I generally support the EU but I suspect that if other EU countries had been given an opportunity there would have been more negative votes. It is time for Brussels to face up to the reality that they did not convince the general population of the need for the new legislation.

Ray Harvey, Hitchin, uk

As the man says. let us have the "facts" on the table first.

F Sadler, Chelmsford, UK

Who came up with this one? The European Union of course, obvious. Ireland: do not fall fot this blatant deceit.

Arthur Guy, Gloucester, England

After the war the USA was a prominent supporter of European integration and pushed the UK to join. Maybe they have belatedly realised that yet again they got it wrong.

william Haines, Northwood,

i was wondering why i'd voted no.i thought it was because i was opposed to the constitution(treaty) but now realise it was the c.i.a!thanks brussels

kevin, shannon, ireland

Sounds like a witchhunt. The Pro-europeans don't get their way so they use conspiracy theories to persecute opposition.

mac, Glasgow, sCOTLAND

Right. So the democratically expressed will of the people was the result of a US plot. What rubbish.

The reason they voted against was because Ireland was being asked to pay for infrastructure in Eastern Europe instead of getting theirs paid for. So they didn't like it.

Same reason for Brits!

Anthony Lester, Brum,

I agree, I was getting a paper this morning and was told by a 6 foot body builder called "Brad" that my shopkeeper was on vacation.

He handed me a packet of Lucky Strikes and with a "God Save America" sent me on my merry way.

The Irish can think for themselves Europe!

Marc, Antrim, N Ireland

"We cannot allow Europe to be harmed by people who demand transparency but do not provide it themselves.”

That would be the Commissioners, then!

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Somehow I believe this. It is in the interest of the US and Russia, it seems, to have a devided Europe.

Genti, London, UK

Yeah pretty far fetched considering the CIA has been meddling with afairs of almost every country on this planet. Why are you guys in the US so narrow minded. Open your eyes, I promise it won't hurt, true knowledge is a blessing.

Tony, London, UK

There is no doubt that the present US administration is capable of such an act. Please remember that the US is in the business of itself, again under the Republicans. I have real doubts about the EU and what it can do to individual states.

Derek, Mebane, USA

Good on them, there are plans to virtualy turn the EU into the new Soviet Union in all but name.

Lawrenc, Salisbury, United Kingdom

This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Can't we accept that the Irish made their decision and move on? Claiming that they were helpless pawns in a CIA plot (the world's worst excuse, given CIA's record) is an insult to the Irish voters and won't do anything to advance the EU cause.

Matt, Chicago, IL, USA