Early returns show solid Irish 'yes' to EU treaty

[October 03, 2009]  DUBLIN (AP) -- Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin says Ireland has delivered "a convincing win" for the European Union's reform treaty as the votes are counted.

Martin says the "yes" vote is running about 60 percent nationwide for the EU Lisbon Treaty.

"I'm absolutely delighted for the country. It looks like a convincing win on this occasion," he says. "It's good for Ireland, because I do passionately believe our future is in the European Union and there was no real reason to vote no."

Official results come later Saturday.

Ireland's June 2008 rejection threatened to derail the EU's painstakingly negotiated plans to modernize its institutions, but the Irish agreed to stage a second vote.

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DUBLIN (AP) -- Electoral officials say Ireland looks likely to have approved the European Union's reform, with early returns showing a strong swing to the "yes" side following last year's surprise rejection.

Dublin officials say several districts of the Irish capital that rejected the Lisbon Treaty last time are registering "yes" majorities from Friday's referendum, while the pro-treaty vote is even higher in other parts of Ireland.

Official results come later Saturday.

With small samples counted, pro-treaty votes are running at 56 percent in Dublin Central and Dublin Northeast.

Ireland's June 2008 rejection threatened to derail the EU's painstakingly negotiated plans to modernize its institutions, but the Irish agreed to stage a second vote.

[Associated Press]

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