Well ..
I don’t normally have much of an opinion on policital matters, but i think this is a farse. It didnt go through the last time .. so lets change it a little bit and ..well .. this time .. sure the people don’t know whats best for them. Lets make the choice for them.
I firmly believe that Ireland is a republic and it should stay that way. If it goes the way of Harmonisation, the big ones (Germany,France and Italy) will start dumping their problems on everyone. High taxation in Germany is there to offset the problem with paying for the east and their aging population, they really are pushing for a uniform tax rate across europe because of their economic issues (which are improving at the moment)
I’ll be honest, i didnt read the whole thing, its 120 pages long and i only just finished a book. There isn’t any honest information out there from what i can see so, i can only go from the facts.
1. It was introduced, countries had a referendum, some countries (including the Dutchies and Irish) voted NO.
2. It was changed slightly (from what i understand it still has the end result)
3. It was announced that it will be put into practise.
4. Countries that previously voted no were told they cannot vote this time.
5. Ireland announces that its having a referendum on it, Ireland will be the ONLY country in the EU having a vote.
6. This happens:
IRELAND and Europe will “pay a price” if there is a ‘No’ vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned voters last night.
To me that should read: “Vote yes or else”
7. This happens:
Protests are being held outside 40 Irish embassies this weekend congratulating Ireland on holding a referendum denied to 487 million Europeans.
To me this strikes me as something that is being forced on the people, if you have to address a nation, that is a Republic, with a reasoning that is “Vote yes, because i said so” what are people supposed to think.
Also, if people are protesting that they don’t have a vote, does this seem right, why would they protest if there wasn’t a problem. I know theres always some nut that comes up with a reason, but these are people in Independant states that previously voted NO.
My issue isn’t with the Lisbon treaty itself, its how its being forced on people. This is not the “United States of the European Union” Anyone else remember who tried to force their Ideals on Europe, who thought they knew best ?
Again, i’ll say it, Ireland is a REPUBLIC people and it should stay that way, it took us long enough to get it , the European Union is great, but its an economic deal at the end of they day and we are keeping to that deal, it did not include forcing “Harmonisation” on people.
Next thing we’ll be required to carry “Papers” with us for identification purposes
Oh wait .. we do already .. in Holland anyway 
Welcome to the European Union Comrade:
brewery 
