Ireland’s Yes vote in the Lisbon treaty referendum “sends out a very positive message to the other European countries that Ireland sees her destiny with these other countries”, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has said.
Speaking in at the count centre in City West, Mr Lenihan said the result “will improve our economic position”. His own Dublin West constituency returned a 68.5 per cent vote in favour of the treaty, compared to 52 per cent no the last time, while Dublin Mid-West was 61 per cent in favour and 39 per cent against. In 2008 the constituency voted 60 per cent against the treaty.
Dublin South this time beat Dún Laoghaire for the highest Yes vote with 81.6 per cent in favour, compared to 81.17 for Dún Laoghaire.
Mr Lenihan believed that “the other European countries will be thrilled at the results. It’s a statement of confidence in ourselves and our capacity to address our problems.” Labour deputy leader Joan Burton said “young couples in new areas have come out in massive numbers to vote Yes”.
Dublin South West, which had the highest No vote in the State in 2008 at 65 per cent against, returned a clear Yes to the treaty with 59 per cent in favour, although there were a few areas which remained on the No side.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Charlie O'Connor said it was a significant change because the constituency had traditionally voted No in every referendum.
Mr Lenihan said there was a “lot of discussion within families and households. You don’t have a 20 per cent swing unless people have discussion among themselves about how they should vote. And I think there was far more of that type of discussion taking place in every household in the State in this election.”
Sinn Féin Councillor Sean Crowe, the only No political representative at the centre, said “people who had more to lose voted Yes. Many who had clearly voted No haven’t benefited” from the economy. There were areas of No votes in his Dublin South West constituency including Fettercairn, Knockanure, Killinardin where it was two to one against the treaty,” he said. Jobstown, which voted by a margin of six to one against the treaty last yeark, was about 60 to 40 against.
Dublin North voted 72.86 per cent in favour with parts of Malahide showing more than 90 per cent in favour.
Asked if the change resulted from a lacklustre No campaign, the Minister said: “The No side postered as much as they postered the last time, but I think the Yes side had counter-postering tactics. But on the No side there was only one MEP left since the European elections campaigning against. The other MEPs were in favour and I think that had an impact as well.”
In his local Castleknock area, the electorate voted three to one in favour of the treaty. He said Dublin West was a very socially differentiated constituency and the social divide was “still there but there was a 20 per cent swing everywhere regardless of social standing.
Questioned about where next for the Lisbon treaty, Mr Lenihan said that the president of Poland was expected to sign the treaty next and “the Czechs have to resolve certain legal difficulties they are having”.
The Government’s next priority is the Nama legislation.
Mr Lenihan said the debate on the reform of the banking system has been a very good, thorough debate. "I appreciate that nobody loves banks but we have to have a banking system to have a functioning economy. I believe we should all work together to that end," he said. "I’ve made it clear that I’m open to constructive amendments on the Nama Bill and I look forward to that debate taking place.”
