Opinion polls had predicted a tight result in the referendum in Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty. In the end the result was a landslide. The result not only increases the chances of the treaty coming into force, it also increases the credibility of the institutions that it’s set to reform.

Ireland rejected the Lisbon treaty in June of last year, but this time round it was endorsed by 67 per cent of those who voted – the turnout was 58 per cent, a little up on a year ago. The entire Irish political establishment bar Sinn Fein had campaigned for a yes vote – but whereas in the past that message fell on deaf ears, fear of isolation in a time of economic crisis looks to have encouaged voters to accept the case for reform.More about: Ireland, Referendum, Treaty of Lisbon

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