Looks like it's up to the Irish people to save European citizens from a catastrophe................I'm well encouraged however..............The Irish fought TOO hard for their Independence to give it away so meekly

Hamish Morrison, Inverness, Scotland

Let’s not be fooled or again be bullied into voting yes. It is quite clear, that the consequences of a yes vote, mean the handover of our sovereignty and democracy to the European Parliament. A yes vote would make our national governments subordinate to the European Parliament. A yes vote would allow the appointment of European leaders that the Irish people have nocontrol in electing.
A yes vote, voids our voice as a nation. If we vote yes, the Irish republic will no longer be allowed to have any referenda on European issues. The European machine will drive on without us, thanks to qualified majority voting. A yes vote will allow the unsupervised generation of laws and regulations to creep in through the Article 48 loophole.
If we vote yes, the Irish people give away the sovereignty of the Irish nation. A democratic right, which the nation has fought for, for hundreds of years!

Don’t be duped by new roads, CAP payouts etc. Our freedom, our choice, our voice and our liberty is more important than any other benefit the EU can give us.
Now is the time to be responsible and vote NO, to protect your liberty, your voice, you’re your freedom.

I close with words from Thomas Jefferson: “He who gives up his liberty and freedom, deserves neither liberty or freedom.”
and
“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.

Andrew Chambers, Cork,

I hope the people of Ireland will understand the responsibility that rests on them. They have the only Constitution that requires the electorate to mandate the Lisbon Treaty/Constitution.

The remaining Governments of the EU are refusing to allow their electorates a vote just in case they say No. Ireland has a democratic responsibility to send a message to those Governments that they have no mandate to change our lives without consulting the electorate of each and every country involoved.

The Americans - for once - are right ..... it should be Government By The People, For the People.

Donna Walker, Effingham, Surrey

I believe that this new EU treaty can only be a force for good. The EU is preparing to send troops to Darfur, and I think that this is just the beginning of what it can do. With global warming and an energy crisis on the horizon, we will have more clout by speaking and bargaining as one large group rather than dealing piecemeal against each other.

I will vote yes! Europe is now the only balance to American militarism, if it wasn't for France and Germany, all of Europe and the world would be now stuck in the quagmire of Iraq, and possibly Iran too!

stephen, Dublin, Ireland

If you agree or disagree with the treaty, please give the aspect of the treaty that you are considering. It is not useful to just argue against the European Union, and encourage a no vote as a result of that. At least read the Wikipedia article!!

Being in the European Union has in no way reduced our identity, or our freedom. However, we are not taking advantage of the power in the world that such a union can yield. Some of the treaty appears to help that by consolidating the foreign affairs posts for the EU, and allowing those to be guided by a majority decision. Next time Israel bomb the Lebanese, would it be nice to be able to stand up to the Americans as a unit?

Gary, Dublin,

Let Europe divide into two - north and south, then we might be a little happier. We could even form a union with Canada. Sounds far-fetched, but for the most part we have a common language, and has anyone thought of it?

Thomas, Westmeath, Ireland

I hope Ireland votes and they vote 'No'. It is about time that the 'European' project was rescued from the professional politicians and bureacrats who seem to regard it as their own - to structure grow and develop as they alone see fit.

The absence of any real democratic mandate is fast turning the European Union into another grotesque state entity having a life separate and distinct from 'the people' - like the 'Soviet' Union this EU will crumble and fall unless this deficiency is remedied.

Perhaps Ireland can kick the first few stones out of this new 'Berlin wall'.

Mark, Berkhamsted,

If the Irish vote against the constitution they will have to hold a succession of votes until they get it right

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

It doesn't really matter if Ireland votes No, because the Irish government will just call a second referendum a week after the first referendum if they don't like the result and make sure that people vote Yes in a second referendum.

The government did exactly this during the 2002 Nice Treaty referendum.

Daniel, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Kind of Ironic-

The Irish fight for 800 years supposedly for their independence, then comes along a simple choice to vote for it, and it's a cinch they're going to vote it away.

Do you want freedom, or would you prefer to be a slave province of "Europe?"

"Slave province of Europe please"

(If they don't vote for it this time, they will soon enough)

Sadly Irish, Washington, USA/DC

One thing now is utterly clear: the EU project is an ALTERNATIVE GOVERNMENT TO A DEMOCRATIC ONE. Leaders cynically ignore voters wishes, again and again. Where is this to end up, and why are our 'democratic' MPs not appalled?

Ibnez, Dalston, UK

Dear Stephen Felce
I cannot but smile at the final paragraph of your comment
Having fought for 4hundred years to reverse the take over by England I am sure they "like us in Britain" will agree with you.

Andrew G O'Donnell, Sacramento, USA/CA

As a Northern Irishman denied a vote by both Gordon Brown and Costas Karamanlis (Greek PM), I place all my hopes in my fellow-Irishmen in the South to vote this abominable mini-treaty out of existence. The Irish, North and South, have always come to the aid of the mainland Brits & Greeks in their hour of need as can be seen on the headstones in the military cemetries throughout the world, including those here in Greece. Before my Southern brethren changed articles 2 & 3 of their 1937 constitution, I was no admirer of it but now it has supreme relevance in that its statements on civil liberties are in part denied or omitted in the new EU mini-treaty. No Irishman will accept less than the best when it comes to liberty and democracy. The EU bureaucrats - supported by that bureaucrat-in-chief, the Scotsman Gordon Brown - have so far denied the European peoples the right to vote on this quasi-constitution. It is now left to the Southern Irish to commit it to the bin of historical detritus

Dr David Green, Athens, Greece

Nobody has explained the effects of this, once in a lifetime, treaty to the public in simple terms. Accept it without a referendum? No way! What arrogance Gordon Brown is showing - just like his predecessor

Gary, Bracknell, UK

The comments of José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President to Ireland sounds to me like a clumsy attempt at a bribe. No notice should be taken of it because the Irish are already entitled to these arrangement which were introduced a long time ago to smooth out differences between the economies of member countries so as to facilitate trade.

Ireland has a thriving and justifably proud culture, so my hope is that they will not support the take over from Brussels. Surely, they like us in Britain, also want to run their own country and not be subject to invasions of their sovereignty on matters that are nothing to do with trade?

Stephen Felce, Enfield, UK

Traditionally, the Anglo Saxons have always been a final bulwark for liberty; however, immobilised by apathy, we in Britain have permitted our Leaders to sign this wicked treaty, this openly ackonowledged replacement for the rejected constitution. It would be a grand historical irony if the Irish now come to Britain's rescue (as they did once before, long ago, when they were sending their missionary saints to convert us to Christianity), and strike a blow for national freedom and sovereignty which will echo around the world.

Robert Dewar, High Wycombe, UK

Good for Ireland. I'm actually a supporter of the European Union and the trend towards a stronger federalism within it (of course, that's easy for me, being an American), but ultimately if it is to have any real credibility with Europeans, it needs to be based on a popular mandate. I'm all for this.

Brett, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Go on Ireland please vote NO ! I used to think Europe was a good thing but now definately I think we in UK are better of out and without being overwhelmed by europeans taking our jobs, houses and services. I shall pray that Ireland votes no.

Kevin, Guildford , UK