Sir, - Here we go again! The usual guff about evaporating European goodwill toward Ireland, the No vote being carried by hardened leftists exercising power and influence disproportionate to our inconsequential size and irritating our European benefactors.
The reality is this. The Irish were the only people in the EU "allowed" this important referendum. We have traditionally been seen by Brussels as very keen Europeans and our Yes vote was to have been held up as the token democratic consent to this treaty and the extremely contentious issue of enlargement.
It backfired, of course - the vote was No in this most pro-European of countries. What if the referendum was "allowed" in core Europe, maybe France or Germany, and a No vote carried? The treaty and the enlargement issue would be shelved.
However, thanks to our underwhelming size, the saintly patience of our Brussels partners, and our re-education by the Government we will soon be given a second chance to get the answer right.
All I know is that the treaty will mean not every country will have a commissioner, voting powers will be reduced it will cost us plenty to integrate East European countries.
Great place for cheap, corporate labour though! - Yours, etc.,
Paul Hayes, Larchfield, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14.