Let's be clear about this - it's not the EU which is responsible for this behaviour, it's a bunch of arrogant, overpaid Eurocrats who are more concerned about their perks and priveleged positions than they are about the people whom they are meant to represent.

Bill Q, Derby,

The Times would be doing ALL Europeans a favour by publishing the comments verbatim, AND identifying the people who made them. If this is promulgated throughout the EC, we might find that some of these MEPs will be back in the job market soon, unless they decide to change the election protocols!

Bill Q, Derby,

Why do the Irish need EU beaurocrats to do what the Irish elites are already doing, ignoring their people's wants and desires?

John, Chicago, USA

Well you never really thought you would have it your way did you, the EU will never allow the treaty to die it will go on some how in order to keep it alive sacrificing ireland if necessary.
Remember 490million havent been able to have thier say and they dont speak for me or 490million others.

bazza, london,

Liam Byrne:
By that reckoning the ROI will have no problem about handing back the €40-billion and exiting the EU and €urozone. Northern Ireland gets £12-billion per year form Westminster and also gets EU grants as part of the UK's regional package, etc.

Charles Smyth, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Over my dead body, we have already voted no, that is the decision of the Republic of Ireland, but if they try and forcefeed us this treaty again, i will of course vote no, but that begs the question, why am i voting again on the same issue exactly? I got it wrong the first time?

Keith Maher, Longwood, Ireland

Charles Smyth,
EU grants have never made up more than 1% of Irelands GDP at any point. EU economic areas are devoid of state boundaries, so not only has Northern Ireland being enjoying an £8 billion a year hand-out form the English Tax payer, they have received EU grants too.

Liam Byrne, Dublin, Ireland

The Republic of Ireland was more than happy to take the €40-billion of payouts to transform its third world economy and was indulged to ridiculous degrees by way of being allowed to manipulate the regional grants to gain unfair advantages for an extra couple of years. It's easy to be a good European on that basis.

Charles Smyth, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Welcome to the brave new world of the eu. There are a few people, those who directly get an advantage from the eu, the unelected commisars, who make all the decisions the mep's who get paid for not doing anything useful, and the hangers on who get our tax money simply for being there.

Barry Davies, Stafford, U. K.

The EU claim that 495m Europeans will be 'really angry if the answer is no again' makes me livid! The only countries allowed a democratic vote on the treaty have rejected it, yet the EU pretends that all those not allowed a vote are FOR the treaty. This is untrue and is a ploy to isolate the Irish.

Jan, South West London, England

If the Irish voted No, it is because they do not want to be part of this Europe. So, why do they get angry if they get isolated. Maybe because they really want to be part of this Europe and they just want to put on a show ? Get your act together and stop blaming the EU for your own mistakes.

adam, london, UK

Ireland has a tradition of fighting back against bullies. The French and Germans are so arrogant that they just dont get that fact. The EU cant be ruled by a small group of elitist fossils who think they are better than the rest. It smacks of economic imperialism and is v bad news for small states.

Johnny, Co Dublin,

OK if (when) the second vote goes ahead it will be the second attack on democracy that the european union and the irish politicians are party to. As this becomes more common democracy in europe is dead. Shame on them. An economic free trade europe yes but surely we should keep democracy?

Michael walsh, Waterford, Ireland

I didnt vote last time because I didnt really understand it. I still dont now but I'll be voting NO this time because of such arrogance and blatant disrespect from the so called "elite" of europe treating us like idiots.

I was so pro E.U before but now I feel like we should leave.

Phil, Dublin, Ireland

These people are making the same mistakes they did during the build up to the original IRISH vote on the Lisbon Treaty. Irish people never react well to threats or insults and comments such as "intellectual mediocrity", "cuddle and pamper" and "consequences” of a second refusal are a mistake.

Kevin, Dublin,

Who in their right mind would condone involving "a question to which the Irish could not say no."? This kind of bullying, unveiled threats and condescending language coming from our "partners" in europe? We were right to vote no. Why is there no coverage of this in the Irish media?

Martin Butler, Wexford, Ireland

This article seems to be based on conspiracy theories. What the rest of the EU wants to do is to give Ireland all the opt outs they wish so that they would feel more comfortable with matters like abortion, military neutrality and so on.

fabio, london, UK

I refused to be bullied by some French politician that I will never have the chance to vote for. How dare they tell us what to do. Ireland has already made it's voice heard. A second referendum is undemocratic. If this is the vision of a new EU, then I want none of it.

Seán Ó Briain, Port Láirge, Éire

This is disgusting... when it comes to punishing and handing out consequences to fellow members in the EU, EU politicians have no problem handing them out.. What happened to respecting the democratic process of countries? I guess solidarity in the EU is more words then actions.

Maciej Skiba, Chicago, USA