Irish EU Treaty Referendum: Tallies Favor No Vote-RTE
DUBLIN (Dow Jones)--The ongoing tallies from Ireland's public referendum on the European Union's Lisbon Treaty still show a swing toward a No vote, with very few Yes majorities, according to state broadcaster RTE.
Analysts warn that it's still early in the voting process, with between 10% and 50% boxes opened in selected areas, though the latest tallies indicate there is no significant U-turn in the trend against the treaty.
The official result will be announced between 1400 GMT and 1600 GMT Friday.
Boxes opened in the constituencies of Dublin, Donegal, Kerry, Cork and Limerick indicate a preference for the No side, RTE said, adding that so far the working-class area Cork north-central constituency had 65% voting No. The pattern of tallies across Dublin remains around 60% in favor of the No side, with working-class areas voting more definitively against the treaty, even including the constituency of former Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.
There is a similar trend emerging in Waterford, Wexford, Longford, Roscommon and Westmeath, and in Connaught/Ulster where the No vote is hovering at 60%, though Wicklow and Carlow/Kilkenny have a 50/50 split.
In Louth, where around half of the boxes are open, approximately 57% are favoring No and the gap is widening as more boxes are being opened, RTE's correspondent in that county said.
One of the few constituencies showing a Yes majority is Laois/Offaly, which is currently running a 57% Yes vote in favor of the Lisbon Treaty, but this is the home constituency of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen.
The turnout was estimated to average 45% in the only public referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, according to polling station surveys taken by state broadcaster RTE, which analysts say means the result is too close to call.
Turnout below 45% traditionally tend to include more dogmatic 'No' voters as when Irish voters rejected the 2001 Nice Treaty to approve the E.U.'s expansion in part on a 35% turnout, but was later approved with a 50% voter turnout.
Polls before the vote showed that people were concerned about Ireland having less representation in Europe, fears of a more militaristic Europe and unhappiness with the rapid slowdown in the Irish economy and construction industry.
The referendum has leaders of the 27-member E.U. on edge, raising concerns in Brussels that an Irish rejection of the treaty could throw the whole E.U. reform process into chaos and reflect on the E.U.'s future direction.
-By Quentin Fottrell, Dow Jones Newswires; +353 1 676 2189; quentin.fottrell®dowjones.com
|
