We are in a different stage in the ballgame now. . .

The German ambassador’s reply to inquiries as to his comments at an event in Tralee on Tuesday. The ambassador was there because of new cultural linkups between Tralee and Frankfurt, his reported comments were incendiary locally – consdiering the high number of ‘no’ voters at the last Lisbon campaign and the re-election of Martin Ferris in-part based on his appeal to disillusioned fishing communities in the locality.

The ambassador was also said to have noted that rural regions such as Kerry returned a much higher No vote than urban areas in last year’s referendum.

He reportedly made pointed references to those who “complain about other nations fishing in their waters. . . and forget who pays their milk subsidies”.

The Ambassador stood full sqaure behind his comments though and that is interesting.

“The reports make it sound like I was lecturing Ireland and the Irish but it was not meant to be aggressive or demeaning,” he said.

“A second No would have horrific consequences for Ireland and I am not the first to say it. I don’t think there is anything particularly new in that.”

The ambassador rejected suggestions his remarks could be considered undiplomatic. “They are not. I am simply conveying what my government thinks. That is my job.”

Mr Pauls said that in the run-up to the first referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, foreign diplomats based in Ireland had “stayed quiet” on the issue because they did not want to be seen as interfering in the Irish vote. The ambassador said he no longer considered this necessary.

“We are in a different stage in the ballgame now. . . Everybody seems to be forgetting that this is a family issue involving 27 family members. I find the prospect of a second No frightening and I am going to continue making that case.”

A different ball-game indeed, and the clear assertion that he has the backing of his government. The gloves are coming off for Lisbon II not least with money coming to a less-well off Fianna Fail from their new liberal buddies. The foreign governments don’t appear quite so willing to let the government get on with it and why would they – look at the parsing of the voter analysis done over at the Cedar Lounge, the only conclusion is an utterly inept government campaign cost them a victory and put Cowen on the slide toward where he is now.

Libertas were making all sorts of noise about this, getting the customary final paragraph but I wonder what kind of influence they will continue to have on the EU Treaty debate. The idea that they galvanised centre-right voters, pro-business and usually pro-Europe by proffering the good Chairman Ganley to speak to their concerns is slowly undermined by the hook-ups with various elements across Europe that turn voters off. It may be that they will have to sacrifice that treaty kudos for parliamentary representation, a major gamble if the EU elections go against them.

Nonetheless, we have officially been told – the EU will not be standing idly by this time round and, like Nice II, I wouldn’t be surprised to see far more people vote ‘yes’ based on a better understanding but also out of a fear of turning into Iceland.