Early indications show 'Yes' vote for Lisbon
Early indications indicate a 'Yes' vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum, just over an hour after counting commenced this morning.
Tallies so far in Dublin, the west and the south generally indicate the 'Yes' vote has carried. In Galway East and West, Carlow/Kilkenny, Mayo and Clare there are indications that it could be 2 to 1 in favour, while Dublin South West, which voted 'No' last time around, is swinging to 'Yes'.
Voter turnout passed the 50% mark yesterday.
A Fine Gael exit poll suggested that the referendum will be carried with 65% of voters choosing ‘Yes’ and 35% ‘No’. The poll also indicated a 70% ‘Yes’ vote in Dublin and that 17% of those who voted did not vote in last year’s referendum.
"Based on the Fine Gael figures there is a realistic chance that the ‘Yes’ vote outpolled the ‘No’ vote in every province," the party said today.
During last year’s referendum it was thought a large turnout would boost the Yes side, but despite more than half of all voters coming out (53%) the 'No' camp clinched it, with the final result 53.4% to 46.6%.
Opinion polls showed the 'Yes' side pull ahead over the summer months, but the pro-treaty camp fears a growing anti-government voice could have reared its head at the ballot box.
Ireland is the only country holding a public vote on Lisbon because a constitutional amendment is necessary to accept the treaty’s provisions.
