At 16.07 this Tuesday, 3 November, I got a call from one of those who I had worked with in the Ireland for Europe offices to say that some of those from Generation Yes were meeting for drinks later. I had thought at first it was just a meeting in a bar with no particular occasion, till he said “Klaus has signed it”. So there it was confirmed, the Lisbon Treaty had passed all obstacles and delays and would come into effect. For those who worked on the campaign, it was a nice moment to have arrived at.
Now more than a month ago, the result was declared of the 2 October poll was declared, with 1,214,268 votes in favour to 594,606 against, a result of 67% in favour. This was far beyond what most optimistic Yes campaigners had dared to have hoped for and sent a very clear signal that Ireland was favourable towards the institutions of the European Union.
I think it must be acknowledged that the victory would not have been so resounding had it not been for the change in our economic fortunes. I don’t think many actually expected new jobs as a direct result of Lisbon; whatever the simplicity of some of the posters, people understood the broader benefits the EU brought to our economy and would do so to come. As both business and union leaders made it clear that a negative vote would hurt us economically, the public felt little desire to take that risk.
But the real difference in terms of campaigns between this year’s and that before the June 2008 referendum was the extent to which it was non-political. Ireland for Europe was a broad national network, with decentralised organizations around the country, composed of volunteers, many of whom had never campaigned before, coupled with a strong team in the head offices by the Harcourt station. There was also the difference with issue-based groups, such as Women for Europe, The Charter Group (of trade unionists supporting the Charter of Fundamental Rights) and Christians for Europe, as a few of the many such examples.
The political parties also had much better campaigns. Last year, some of the parties used the referendum unashamedly as a dry run for the local elections, with posters of councillors and a small sign to vote Yes in the corner. This time around, only the leaders of the two opposition parties were displayed in any prominent way on posters, with other messages as well. The official support of the Green Party this year was also welcome.
The opposition campaign to Lisbon had considerably diminished since the year before. While each the groups opposed last time did fight again, their supporters in the media last time around were either mute or had outright reversed their opinion to call for a Yes vote.
The mood of the country had definitely changed in 15 months, reflected in the number of those who took part in the campaign and the result itself, the largest number in absolute terms of those to have voted for a European Union Treaty. Granted, the electorate has grown, and the percentage in favour was higher in 1972, 1987 and 1992, but this was also the highest turnout at a European referendum since the Accession Treaty vote in 1972, and the highest turnout at any standalone referendum since the vote on divorce in 1986.
As soon as the vote was passed, politics continued, as parties focused on John O’Donoghue’s expenses and as unions, business and the government, united on Lisbon, turned to their disagreements on how best to tackle the deficit in the public finances. Life did go on, but this clear affirmation in favour a future committed to the European Union from the Irish people on 2 October will not be forgotten, as those across the country came together this past summer for this common purpose.
