By Darren Ennis and Padraic Halpin
DUBLIN, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Irish voters have approved the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty, Ireland's foreign minister and opposition groups said on Saturday, removing an obstacle to the EU's ambitions to increase its global influence.
Irish approval, a year after rejecting the charter, will put pressure on Poland and the Czech Republic to follow other EU leaders in backing a treaty intended to make it easier for the EU to reach decisions now that it has 27 member states.
'I am delighted for the country. It looks like a convincing win for the 'Yes' side on this occasion,' Foreign Minister Micheal Martin told national radio.
The leader of anti-Lisbon group Libertas said voters had approved the treaty.
'This is a very convincing win,' Declan Ganley told reporters at the main Dublin counting centre. 'Of course I am disappointed, I think we have made a mistake.'
Monitors were still counting votes following Friday's referendum on a treaty that requires the approval of all member states to go into force, and official results were expected late on Saturday afternoon.
But state radio RTE said early tallies from counting centres showed constituencies such as Dublin Central and Dublin North East had voted 56 percent in favour while in Galway city early indications put the 'Yes' vote at 63 percent.
'It looks like a 'Yes' vote. I want to sympathise and commiserate with all our people who put in a great effort for the love of their country,' said Richard Greene, a spokesman for the Coir group which opposed the treaty.
'We are extremely disappointed that the voice of the people was not heard the first time around.'
The atmosphere was calm after fraught campaigning that pitched Ireland's main political parties against anti-abortion groups, pacifists and British eurosceptics.
The Irish government called the second referendum under pressure from EU leaders and the executive European Commission in Brussels.
IMPACT OF RECESSION
The vote followed warnings from celebrities, politicians and business leaders that a second 'No' would ruin Ireland's reputation as it battles recession.
Many voters were thought more likely to back the treaty this time because of the economic crisis, during which EU aid has helped curb the impact on Ireland.
The treaty creates two new posts -- a long-term president of the European Council of EU leaders and foreign policy chief.
This is intended to increase the influence of a bloc representing 495 million people as the balance of power shifts following the global financial crisis to give China and other emerging powers more say.
EU leaders are now sure to put pressure on the eurosceptic leaders of Poland and the Czech Republic to ratify the treaty.
'Regarding the Polish and Czech presidents, it is a matter for them and it is a matter for their people. The ball is now firmly in their court,' European Affairs Minister Dick Roche told Reuters at the main Dublin counting centre.
'All I can say is that Ireland has lived up to its responsibilities and it is now up to them to live up to theirs.'
Polish President Lech Kaczynski has said he will ratify the charter if Ireland votes 'Yes'. Czech President Vaclav Klaus could delay approval to await a ruling on a constitutional complaint against the treaty by 17 senators.
Irish approval would be a boon for the former 'Celtic Tiger' economy, which was spared an Icelandic-style collapse because of its membership of the euro zone.
The country is still reliant on goodwill from Brussels and the European Central Bank in Frankfurt for its future recovery.
Many people in Ireland are struggling to come to terms with unemployment, higher taxes and the possibility of lower social welfare payments in the next austerity budget.
Irish borrowing costs would be likely to drop and its banking stocks rise on Monday if the result is a 'Yes'.
((For stories on the vote click on))
(Writing by Carmel Crimmins; editing by Timothy Heritage and Dale Hudson) Keywords: IRELAND EU/ (padraic.halpin@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: padraic.halpin.reuters.com@reuters.net; +353 1 500 1504) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
DUBLIN, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Irish voters have approved the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty, Ireland's foreign minister and opposition groups said on Saturday, removing an obstacle to the EU's ambitions to increase its global influence.
Irish approval, a year after rejecting the charter, will put pressure on Poland and the Czech Republic to follow other EU leaders in backing a treaty intended to make it easier for the EU to reach decisions now that it has 27 member states.
'I am delighted for the country. It looks like a convincing win for the 'Yes' side on this occasion,' Foreign Minister Micheal Martin told national radio.
The leader of anti-Lisbon group Libertas said voters had approved the treaty.
'This is a very convincing win,' Declan Ganley told reporters at the main Dublin counting centre. 'Of course I am disappointed, I think we have made a mistake.'
Monitors were still counting votes following Friday's referendum on a treaty that requires the approval of all member states to go into force, and official results were expected late on Saturday afternoon.
But state radio RTE said early tallies from counting centres showed constituencies such as Dublin Central and Dublin North East had voted 56 percent in favour while in Galway city early indications put the 'Yes' vote at 63 percent.
'It looks like a 'Yes' vote. I want to sympathise and commiserate with all our people who put in a great effort for the love of their country,' said Richard Greene, a spokesman for the Coir group which opposed the treaty.
'We are extremely disappointed that the voice of the people was not heard the first time around.'
The atmosphere was calm after fraught campaigning that pitched Ireland's main political parties against anti-abortion groups, pacifists and British eurosceptics.
The Irish government called the second referendum under pressure from EU leaders and the executive European Commission in Brussels.
IMPACT OF RECESSION
The vote followed warnings from celebrities, politicians and business leaders that a second 'No' would ruin Ireland's reputation as it battles recession.
Many voters were thought more likely to back the treaty this time because of the economic crisis, during which EU aid has helped curb the impact on Ireland.
The treaty creates two new posts -- a long-term president of the European Council of EU leaders and foreign policy chief.
This is intended to increase the influence of a bloc representing 495 million people as the balance of power shifts following the global financial crisis to give China and other emerging powers more say.
EU leaders are now sure to put pressure on the eurosceptic leaders of Poland and the Czech Republic to ratify the treaty.
'Regarding the Polish and Czech presidents, it is a matter for them and it is a matter for their people. The ball is now firmly in their court,' European Affairs Minister Dick Roche told Reuters at the main Dublin counting centre.
'All I can say is that Ireland has lived up to its responsibilities and it is now up to them to live up to theirs.'
Polish President Lech Kaczynski has said he will ratify the charter if Ireland votes 'Yes'. Czech President Vaclav Klaus could delay approval to await a ruling on a constitutional complaint against the treaty by 17 senators.
Irish approval would be a boon for the former 'Celtic Tiger' economy, which was spared an Icelandic-style collapse because of its membership of the euro zone.
The country is still reliant on goodwill from Brussels and the European Central Bank in Frankfurt for its future recovery.
Many people in Ireland are struggling to come to terms with unemployment, higher taxes and the possibility of lower social welfare payments in the next austerity budget.
Irish borrowing costs would be likely to drop and its banking stocks rise on Monday if the result is a 'Yes'.
((For stories on the vote click on))
(Writing by Carmel Crimmins; editing by Timothy Heritage and Dale Hudson) Keywords: IRELAND EU/ (padraic.halpin@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: padraic.halpin.reuters.com@reuters.net; +353 1 500 1504) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2009 AFX News
