Ireland set to ratify Nice as 7 constituencies vote Yes

The Nice Treaty looks certain to be ratified after six Dublin constituencies and one from Meath each showed a majority in favour of passing the treaty. Turnout in these constituencies was well in excess of 50 per cent.

Electronic voting and counting used in the Dublin Mid West, Dublin North, Dublin West, Dublin South, Dublin South West and Dún Laoghaire means that results in these constituencies have become known less than two hours after polls closed.

In Dún Laoghaire 73 per cent voted in favour of the treaty with a voter turnout of 56 per cent. In Dublin Midwest 60 per cent voted for the treaty following a voter turnout of 44.5 per cent.

Dublin North reported a turnout of 52 per cent with the Yes side given 67 per cent of the vote. Some 73 per cent of voters in Dublin South voted for the treaty with 55 per cent of those eligible to cast ballots doing so.

Dublin Southwest voted in favour of the treaty with 57 per cent voting Yes following a turnout of 46 per cent. Dublin West saw a turnout of 49 per cent with 62 per cent voting in favour of the treaty.

Results from the seventh and final constituency which voted electronically Meath, showed that 46 per cent of the electorate voted and 65 per cent were in favour of ratifying the treaty.

The Tainaiste Ms Mary Harney welcomed the results saying: "I think the vote here tonight in Dublin is representative of the country at large. I expect the Nice treaty Yes vote will be 60-40 in favor tomorrow when the votes are counted."

Mr Justin Barrett, a leader of the No to Nice coalition, conceded defeat and said: "We've taken a major step towards a European superstate, and that's not going to do anyone any good." The results indicate a strong swing in favour of the Yes side with a move of up to 18 per cent in favour of the treaty being recorded. To compare with the previous referendum, the vote in favour of treaty in Dublin Southwest jumped by nearly 20 per cent from 38.4 per cent in 2001 to over 57 per cent this evening.

The Yes side is trying to claw back a 4 per cent swing and if the results this evening broadly representative then a national Yes vote now looks assured.

However, a sharp difference in the voter turnout for the second Nice Treaty Referendum between rural and urban areas was noted by returning officers.

Voting in the State's second referendum on the Nice Treaty began at 9 a.m. Nearly three million people were entitled to cast their vote.

The counting of ballots for the remaining 35 constituencies begins on Sunday morning and will be done manually.

The result is expected between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. tomorrow evening. This is the last time ballot boxes are expected to be used in a referendum or election - the full transition to electronic voting is expected by the time of the next poll.