Still Not Getting It...

It galls us to have to repeat ourselves again, but the actions of the Irish Government as regards their loss in the first Referendum vote on the European Constitution Reform Treaty Lisbon Treaty require us to ask again, "What is it exactly that you don't understand about the word 'NO'?"

Reports emerged last week from 'government sources' that they were considering not only holding a new Referendum (and presumably another if that one doesn't go their way) but moving it forward from the planned date in October to be held on the same day as the European elections in June.

The government seems to be assuming that the Irish people will be more inclined to support the European Constitution Reform Treaty Lisbon Treaty with the economy in turmoil, an opinion perhaps backed up by recent opinion polls which suggest that resistance is weakening.

This, of course, would not be because the Government itself is suggesting that the economic problems in Ireland would be less severe had the Irish voted 'YES' last year - an argument that is both elegent and unprovable, though it should be noted that many countries who did agree with the European Constitution Reform Treaty Lisbon Treaty (without allowing their citizens a vote), including Italy, Greece and Spain are hurting just as badly, if not worse than Ireland.

Perhaps the suggestion is that had the European Constitution Reform Treaty Lisbon Treaty been ratified, Europe's masters in Brussels would have waved their magic wand and fixed all of Europe's economic woes.

Interestingly, at the same time as suggesting that the vote be moved forward, the Government spokesperson also said, "It would be wrong to foist it on people, if the referendum cannot be scheduled to give people sufficient time to debate it."

Given that no real effort has yet been made to explain why a 'YES' vote would be good for Ireland, it seems to us that the vote, if it must be held, should be postponed until such time as clarity is possible.

Maybe this time the politicians could also try to read the European Constitution Reform Treaty Lisbon Treaty as well.