"Rat"ification seems such an appropriate word. Why waste parliamentary time on this? Are they going to change anything? Perhaps the treaty should have ben examined word by word before it was signed.

D.L. Stephens, York, England

It seems that the EU leadership in Brussels has really miscalculated and revealed a little too much about the truth of the EU, that is, that it is undemocratic in nature. The EU is little more than a European Soviet, centrally managed from Brussels. The EU is dead and stinking. Bury it already!

Tim M, Lerida, Spain

the result has certainly flushed out the arrogance of the EU which they tried to hold in check in advance of the vote...

Ger, brisbane,

I WANT a United States of Europe: that follows free market principles, has elected representatives and who are accountable to the people of Europe.
I DO NOT WANT common fisheries, CAP, a socialist, protectionist, centrist structure run by unelected bureaucrats who are answerable to no-one. CLEAR?

Kiffa, Canterbury, UK

Can anyone truly explain WHY party after party, politician after politician, still follow this denigrated plan? Why deny the problems and still go along with it? Anyone?

Kiffa, Canterbury, UK

M. R., Stockport,
You would not have run the argument that
".a no vote mean nothing? Because it is highly likely that those who voted haven't got a clue what they were voting for/against.",
if the vote had been "YES".
You have plumbed the depths of insincerity.

Amin Aswet, Gibraltar,

If the European élite gets a decision from the voters it likes, it is definitive and irrevocable. If it does not like it, it will endlessly seek to explain it away in one way or another as not a real answer, as unclear, as misguided, in short as an error that has to be corrected.

Jeremy Drake, Norwich, United Kingdom

Cher Pascal-Pierre, It was the EU that decided the treaty had to be ratified by ALL members of the EU in order to be adopted. That has not happened and the EU should abide by its own decisions.

Jeremy Drake, Norwich, United Kingdom

Why not have a 2 speed Europe. Germany and France on the one hand as France will let the Germans walk all over them again. and 2 The rest of us in a democratic Europe

Michael, Leicester, UK

It baffles me how countries could ratify a treaty like this without a referendum. The treaty would reduce the independence of individual nations and hand power to an unelected body.

There seems to be a "European nationalistic" fervour taking hold among politicians, and they are ignoring voters.

Jim, Sydney , Australia

The EU leaders are such hypocrites and it shows. They claim there is no 'plan B' to pressure Ireland for a YES vote but then when Ireland votes no they arrogantly say they will press ahead - meaning the doomsday predictions of a NO vote were all lies in the first place. The corrupt EU must listen.

Peter Jones, London , UK

The reaction of the Franco-German Axis to the no vote is, in itself, sufficient reason to justify scuttling the Lisbon Treaty. If they're willing to stomp on the smaller countries now, they certainly will do so when those countries have been weakened by Lisbon. Say no to the Frankenreich.

Vaclav Sokol, Prague, Czech Republic

Well... seems very clear the EU super state is in trouble. Irish, Dutch, French aren't too keen on the idea of another level of government over them. And a government that isn't too transparent. After awhile you begin to wonder how many layers of government and control seems adequate??

Brucie B, Vancouver, Canada

How can our No vote mean nothing to European leaders? Because simply the European Union and I mean by that the countries that make up the European Continent are an arrogant lot. Ireland and United Kingdom are not apart of europe thats what i was always taught at school in the 60's and 70's.

Paul Martin, Brisbane, Qld. Australia

Pascal - can you remind us how your country voted on the Constitution, a text that is almost identical to the Lisbon Treaty, three years ago? Thanks in advance.

Michael, Tallaght, Co Dublin,

Re: pascal-pierre, Brittany, Dinan, European Union ( F) quote: "How come 1% decide for 500 million people?"

Because the Irish were the only ones allowed to have a say, and in case you forgot, the French and Dutch rejected this Treaty also.

Peter Wilson, Didcot, UK

Michael Enders,

How can you propose a two-speed Europe with the original six as a core when two of them have also voted NO to this draft Constitution ?

If the EU leadership try to press on regardless the whole apparatus will unravel.

The EU has no democratic legitimacy.

Paul Hodgson-Jones, Herts, England

Pascall-Pierre

You use the same method as French/German politicians of ignoring facts. The French and Dutch people rejected the the Constitution; the British would. Valerie Giscard d'Estaing admits the Treaty is the same constitution in disguise. Far more than 1% reject the treaty

Mike Daly, Maidenhead, UK

I'm very sure that if every government in the EU had to ask its people about the Lisbon treaty mostly they would get a clear NO. Even now after the EU shows its real undemocratic face. The Eurocrats are afraid of their voters - how can that be?

Beck, Leipzig, Germany

Pascal-Pierre "How come 1% decide for 500 million people?". I'd rather have 5 million of the electorate deciding for 500 million people than just 9000 politicians with their own agenda? Is your trust that blind?

Simon, Chatham, England

It is true that there was confusion over the Treaty. Not surprising when it was couched in such obscure language. However it was abundantly clear to the Irish voters, as it was to the French and Dutch voters previously, that it meant a further weakening of democracy. We said 'No' and we meant 'No'

Brendan Duffy, Ballinrobe, Ireland

Pascal-Pierre!
You assume that all those that didn't vote are FOR the treaty. NOT SO! I am one of the 500 million that wasn't given a chance to vote NO because people like You speak in my name but dare not ask me for my opinion.

P.S. the european can read.. we know what the treaty is for...

Rui, Lisbon,

Europe has ceased to be democratic.
Hitler & Napoleon United1 : Churchill Freetown 0.
There will be no replay.
Attend at your nearest concentration camp for retraining

Stephen Green, Correns , France

The French and German efforts to keep this ratification process on track , is truly insulting to the democraically expressed will of the Irish electorate.
Here is a translation of the Irish result : no!,non!,nein!
this the opposite of yes, oui & ja

Michael, Waterford, Rep. of Ireland

Pascal-pierre, how dare you. Your own country voted NO not long ago and no one else has been given the opportunity- as the bureaucrats in Brussels already know the answer.- NON. Amazing how you europhiles think.
Good on you Ireland.

Victor M., Cricklewood, London,

The only way forward is a two speed Europe,with Germany,France,the Benelux and others in he centre and the others should either opt out totally or be in a looser connected group.
Ireland has voted and should not whinge now of being eventually left out from the centre:that's what they voted for.

michael endres, berlin, germany

The Irish, as the French and the Dutch, didn't vote NO for out of racism or any other infantile disease: They voted NO because the europe that called for their aproval doesn't respect citizens, Irish or any other. Brusselliots just want to carry on their agenda with total disregard for the peoples.

Rui, Lisbon,

Pascal-Pierre, Did you forget that France voted no in 2005 and the constitution was re-drafted. Is this a courtesy that is only given to the French?

Brendan, Dublin, Ireland

Pastel Pierre - There is only one minority and that is the Brussels clique who have tried to ride roughshod over democracy by political chicanery. Ireland the one country in this case that has implemented their democratic views stands head and shoulders above your pathetic excuse for a majority.

philip, Ipswich,

To those foreigners from OZ and elsewhere:)

Democracy commands majority not unanimity!
Then we have elected deputies to do the job....
1% cannot speak for 500 million citizens....
Are you a democrat yourself or do you believe that ONLY your point of view ( ninority) should prevail?????

pascal-pierre, Brittany, Dinan, European Union ( F)

What is so difficult for the EU leaders to understand? The peoples of the EU DO NOT WANT YOUR VISION OF A CENTRALISED UNDEMOCRATIC EUROPE! It is turning into a European dictatorship and we do not want that! Integration has gone too far already.

Ken Hall, Barrow-in-Furness, UK

Pascal Pierre. Ask yourself how many other countries - the people of those countries, rather - would vote NO if given their democratic right. You know the answer. And you know the idea that there's a European majority in favour of it is a lie.

Tony Jones, Grantham, Lincs

If we had the chance , most would say no. It just shows we are no longer free to run our own affairs, we have to wait for the faceless lot Eurocrats, who are they ? I don't know, the Irish don't either , thats why they did the right thing & said no . At least they had the chance to vote.

j quarendon, Yateley, England

I'm very sure that if every government in the EU had to ask its people about the Lisbon treaty, they would get a clear NO. Even now after the EU shows its real undemocratic face. The Eurocrats are afraid of their voters - how can that be?

Beck, Leipzig, Germany

pascal-pierre "How come 1% decide for 500 million people?" -because that 1% were allowed their democratic right to vote. Why are all the other govenments so afraid to put this to a vote - perhaps this is because they know what the result will be? ( That is if anyone can understand the Treaty!!)

Kieran, Sydney,

David Green is correct. The EU should not proceed further on a more integrated, centralised, bureaucratic path before consulting the people of each member country via referenda. The alternative is the growth of an uncontrolled monster and disempowerment of voters.

Faustino, Brisbane, Australia

The Irish vote means Ireland ( not the EU) doesnt want the treaty!! How come 1% decide for 500 million people? I guess there will be some special link worked out for Ireland...Please don't make people believe the EU doesn't want the treaty: That's a lie....ireland rejected it, not the EU.

pascal-pierre, Brittany, Dinan, European Union ( F)

There is only once reasonable course of action left: let the peoples of the EU decide in a one-off referendum. In the meantime a shorter document could be prepared. Any alternative will smack of bureaucraTy. Barroso should also resign. His words are as meaningless as those of the Queen of Hearts.

Dr David Green, Athens, Greece

I've heard it said that this is the end of the EU. Fair enough - not because the Irish voted no to the treaty, but because how all the European political "elite" are turning their backs on democracy. The people are now seeing them in a clearer light.

AndyB, Swindon,

How can a no vote mean nothing? Because it is highly likely that those who voted haven't got a clue what they were voting for/against.

M. R., Stockport,

All bureaucrats and no principles. Where is Europe's Thomas Jefferson? Why can't the constitution be summed up in a few pages of core beliefs? Don't get me wrong, if America had to do it all over again in 2008, it would be the same pork barrel puppet-fest. Time to return to traditions of the past.

Sean Malowney, Houston, USA

What astonishing hypocrisy from Sarkozy and Brown. France rejected the treaty and so they had to start again. Little Ireland rejects and France carries on regardless. Our so called elites denied us referenda to try to avoid this. Now it's happened anyway. Democracy triumphs even when trampelled.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK