Bill for Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty Published Today

While no date has yet been set, we now have the wording of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum. It isn’t readable, short or simple but it seems to cover much more of the bases than a simple adoption of the Lisbon treaty - designed as it is to deflect worries about creeping EU statism. Even though it is a long amendment, the people in the ballot box have only to tick yes or no. However the fact that the amendment itself is as complicated as that which they are trying to sell, the onus on the ‘Yes’ side to get a clear coherent message together in the coming weeks is very large.

There is a provisio on defence, albeit not explicitly mentioning neutrality;

15° The State shall not adopt a decision taken by the European
Council to establish a common defence pursuant to—
i Article 1.2 of the Treaty referred to in subsection 7° of this
section, or
ii Article 1.49 of the Treaty referred to in subsection 10° of
this section,
where that common defence would include the State.

I don’t think that Dick Roche will get away with simler tactics like baiting Libertas for the rest of the spring. There is a vast bulk of established state machinery behind this treaty, from political parties across the spectrum to quangos like the IDA and of course the full government. This makes it at once easier and harder for them to push a yes vote, citizens can be obstinate entites and when it seems like all of the establishment want a particular outcome they may well get suspicious. Few trust a state when it is acting entirely in concert and any successful yes vote must overcome that, however if there were ever a body with the means to do this it is the entire state and establishment machinery.

So with a complicated amendment, a baffling treaty, an establishment consensus and worries about punishment voting - let the battle commence (and hopefully get over 50% turnout this time).

Update: The Referendum Commission will get almost €6 million to inform voters on the debate.