Irish Minister: EU Treaty Vote Lost

"Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern says substantial vote tallies across the country show the European Union Lisbon reform treaty has been rejected.

Tallies are not official, but Mr Ahern says it is clear the No vote is ahead in a vast majority of constituencies.

This would scupper the treaty, which must be ratified by all members. Only Ireland has held a public vote on it.

Mr Ahern is the first senior figure from the Irish government to admit that it looked like the treaty had failed.

"It looks like this will be a No vote," Mr Ahern said on live television. "At the end of the day, for a myriad of reasons, the people have spoken."

Earlier, Europe Minister Dick Roche had admitted "it is not looking good," said after state broadcaster RTE said that the Yes vote was "in difficulty".

The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Dublin says a rejection of the treaty, meant to streamline decision-making in the now expanded EU, could plunge the bloc into crisis.

In Irish polls, tally counters in each constituency watch votes being sorted and make their own count, giving early indications of how a vote is going."(1)

Personally I'm happy to know that 'reform' treaty won't proceed since it transfers even more powers to the unelected Commissioners in Brussels.

Footnote:
(1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7452171.stm