I am getting a bit peeved at the government and media suggestions that anyone who voted no for the Lisbon treaty did so out of ignorance or just sheer awkwardness. I made a very considered decision, more so than anyone I know who voted yes (or no to be fair). First of all, to understand what we were voting for you needed a completed version of Nice II (which was difficult to find) because the draft of Lisbon was writted as a series of ammended texts. My first approach was to find all changes which would directly benefit Ireland. I found none. The only benefit I found would be a better working institution, but done at the expense of voting and veto power, so a compromise involving trust. I had no great problem with this. My problem was all the "tagged-on" articles which were unrelated to a more efficient Europe correcting problems caused by Nice II. Many of these were back-door military clauses. Why have a solidarity clause at all. Why have an obligation to increase military spending. Other articles were so vague, that no solicitor in his right mind would allow you to sign. This treaty had an air of a Work-in-progress, where details would be filled in later, and the power to do so would also be contained in the very treaty itself. In my very humble opinion I believe that our politions asked for a yes vote because they themselves do not fully understand the implications or for some other ulterior motive I cannot see.
Our government are paid to represent the Irish people. We have told them what we want. They have only one job to do now. Go to Brussels and say no. If they go and make excuses for the ignorance of their people, or try to find a way around the voice of their people, then democracy is dead.