Irish reaction

Brian Cowen, the Taoiseach: We are in uncertain waters. There is no quick fix here. .. In a democracy the will of the people as expressed at the ballot box is sovereign. The government accepts and respects the verdict of the Irish people. Once again in Europe a treaty supported by the leaders of all members states has been unable to secure popular support in a ballot.

We must not rush to conclusions. The Union has been in this situation before and each time has found an agreed way forward. I hope that we can do so again on this occasion. I will reflect with my colleagues on all the issues raised.

[The question of holding another referendum] doesn’t arise today because the people have just spoken. My focus is on respecting the decision they have made. It is now my job to discuss with my European colleagues on how we will proceed in the light of this decision.

Declan Ganley, chairman of the anti-treaty campaign group Libertas: Irish people have acted so admirably in expressing this common-sense verdict. This is a message of hope and vision for Europe.

Neil O’Brien, director of Open Europe: This is a resounding victory on behalf of ordinary people across Europe over an out-of-touch and arrogant political elite. If supporters of the EU constitution cannot even win in Ireland - one of the most pro-EU countries in Europe - it is clear their vision for the future of Europe is now discredited in a most fundamental way.

Enda Kenny, Fine Gael leader: We must move on from here and see how the process can be opened up again so that Ireland can remain as a central player in Europe.

Eamon Gilmore, Labour Party leader: Each individual voter made an individual judgment on the Treaty and that judgment must be fully respected. The EU is now entering an uncertain period. The situation will clearly have to be reviewed by EU leaders at their summit in Brussels next week. However, it is not clear what action, if any, the summit can take. There can certainly be no question of putting the same Treaty back to another referendum in Ireland.

Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein President: It was very much a David and Goliath contest ... and in this case Goliath lost again. [Irish people] feel secure at the heart of Europe, but they want to ensure there’s maximum democratic power.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA): Our tracking tells us not only did our people turn out but they turned out and voted Yes in strong numbers. We are quite confident about that. What we were getting back in the last few days was that people voted No for a lot of different reasons, military, religious and local domestic issues.

Turlough O’Sullivan, Director General of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec): This Treaty was always about making Europe work better so it would be stronger in the world. When the fog clears, the challenge for all of us is to see how to do this without weakening Ireland in Europe, or Europe in the world.

Jimmy Kelly, of Unite, Ireland’s second largest trade union: Our union recognised from a very early stage that this Treaty would set back workers’ rights in Ireland and across the continent.

Eamon Devoy, General Secretary designate of The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU): Unfortunately recent key judgments by the European Court of Justice show that the pendulum has swung against workers’ rights and in favour of big business. In the circumstances it would be foolish to provide the institutions of the European Union with any more power.

Charlie McCreevy, Ireland’s EU Commissioner: This vote is not a vote against the European Union. It is about a myriad of other issues. We should remember that Ireland is not alone in being unable to secure a popular endorsement of a European Treaty.

Father Michael Mernagh, community project organiser in inner-city Dublin: There's a campaign poster out there with three monkeys on it saying 'Europe doesn't see you, Europe doesn't hear you, Europe won't speak for you' and sadly in a sense that is true. Europe has removed itself from us ... People in inner city areas like ours, they've become the lost people really.

Paddy Power, the bookmakers who paid out on a 'Yes' vote before the counting started: Last night, there were rumours of an exit poll showing the Yes side in the lead and all the late betting suggested a swing in support for the treaty. It's an unlucky Friday 13th for Paddy Power but a lucky one for our punters.

World reaction

Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission President: I believe we should not rush to conclusions. I believe the treaty is alive and we should now try to find a solution ...

The no vote in Ireland has not solved the problems which the Lisbon Treaty is designed to solve. The ratification process is made up of 27 national processes. Eighteen member states have already approved the treaty and the European Commission believes that the remaining ratifications should continue to take their course.

At the European Council (summit), we will want to confer with each other, to hear Prime Minister Cowen’s analysis, as well as his ideas on how to address the concerns expressed by those who chose to vote no. At the same time, the EU institutions and the member states should continue the work of delivering for the citizens of Europe on issues like growth and jobs, social cohesion, energy security, climate change and fighting inflation.

Working together in the EU remains the best way to deal with the challenges affecting Europeans today.

Joint statement by Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President: We took note of the democratic decision of the Irish people with all due respect, even though we regret it very much. The heads of state and government of 27 member states have signed the Lisbon Treaty and the ratification process has been completed in 18 member countries. We therefore hope that the other member states will pursue their ratification process.

We are convinced that the agreed reforms included in the Lisbon Treaty are necessary to make EU more democratic and more efficient and that they will enable Europe to meet the challenges confronting the European citizens.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister: The ratification process must continue. I am still convinced that we need this treaty - a treaty that makes Europe more democratic, more capable of acting and more transparent.

David Miliband, British Foreign Secretary: I think it is right that we follow the view that each country must see the ratification process to a conclusion. I believe it is right that we continue with our process and take up the Irish offer of further discussions about the next steps forward. It is a result that needs to be respected and digested.

David Cameron, Britain’s Conservative Party leader: People in Ireland have sent the clearest possible message that they do not want this treaty, they do not want this constitution. By all rights now it should be declared dead. The French said ’no’ to it, the Dutch said ’no’ to it, then it was brought back and the only people who have been given a chance to pass judgment on it, the Irish, have now said ’no’ to it.

The elites in Brussels have got to listen to people in Europe who do not want endless powers being passed from nation states to Brussels. They do not want these endless constitutions and treaties.

It is the height of arrogance for Gordon Brown and our Government to press ahead with ratifying this treaty, flying in the face of public opinion. If this is not dead, we must be able to have the referendum in this country so that we have the chance to pass judgment on this treaty and put the final nail in its coffin.

Vaclav Klaus, Czech President: The Lisbon treaty project ended today with the decision of the Irish voters and its ratification cannot be continued. The result is hopefully a clear message to everybody. It is a victory of freedom and reason over artificial elitist projects and European bureaucracy.

Joseph Daul, chairman of the conservatiuve EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament: Unfortunately much of the debate in Ireland was dominated by issues that have nothing to do with the content of the Lisbon Treaty. A dishonest campaign was carried out to create confusion and doubt. Untruths about taxation, neutrality and other issues destroyed all attempts at a normal informed campaign.

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