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Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:24 GMT 10:24 UK

It seems strange to me that a country that fought hard for it's independence would give it away so readily.

yam yzf, London, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:22 GMT 10:22 UK

Mark Solomon is wrong to mislead people into believing there was an EU mandate from the British people. We were taken into the Common Market without our permission on the basis of a Tory win at a General Election (which means about 25% voting on a variety of issues, one of which happened to be a tacit agreement to join the COMMON MARKET). Secondly, the Labour Party switched sides - from being anti-Common Market to being pro-Common Market. No one EVER asked the people about the European Union.

[Upemall], Midlands, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:21 GMT 10:21 UK

What next for Ireland?

Submission to an EU dictatorship

What next for the EU?

Federal state
EU army
Complete control over member states
Democracy finally consigned to the bin as planned.

[chiptheduck], England, a suburb of Brussels

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:21 GMT 10:21 UK

In principal I'm for a more united Europe, but I couldn't be more against the current structure of being dictated to by the current collection of corrupt, unelected, failed politicians and career lawyer bureaucrats.
If they don't engage the people and end the corruption (which unfortunately I cannot ever see happening) then it will all end in failure. It's just a matter of time.

Bob Stewart, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:13 GMT 10:13 UK

I am constantly impressed by the BBC's reporting on the EU that all you see on these HYS's are Daily Mail headlines and very little reality.

Anon

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:13 GMT 10:13 UK

Half did not vote? What does that tell us about the faith people have in the EU? It is obviously now the time for Ireland to re-think their political party allegiances, go with the Workers Party and vote for real changes in Irish politics, hopefully then the day may come when it will be possible for people to chose too live in Ireland instead of having to leave because of the lack of everything needed to enable them to stay. Not just jobs but also homes, schools, affordable health care.

Joseph Cronshaw, Warrington, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:02 GMT 10:02 UK

It means the rip-off can continue. I believed in the EU from the beginning I thought it would give the people of Europe more rights and a better understanding of each other. It has created a culture where people with power and wealth can exploit the people with restrictions and taxes, from which they can then take massive amounts of money from for their own benefit. Their salaries and expenses are obscene, farmers have set aside land and been paid for doing so while food prices are increasing.

Joseph Cronshaw, Warrington, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:59 GMT 09:59 UK

Well it will be bad, really bad for ireland, just like the uk or most other countries I would of said, no one wants it no one needs it, no one was give a choice.

Guy Flowers, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:56 GMT 09:56 UK

Oh who cares, like anything we say or think will have any impact on what actually happens. People need to learn that its down to the political elite, not us !

Martin Mace, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:53 GMT 09:53 UK

Only 58% of people voted 67% of the 58% who voted said yes.

So if I was assume for a moment that the remaining 42% who didn't vote did so because they do not support the treaty and did not want to be bullied into voting, that would give you a resounding NO to the referendum

expatclaire inoz, Adelaide, Australia

You can assume that the 42% that didn't vote did so because thay thought the case had been well made - and that a yes vote was the logiclal. "Never assume" is a good motto

John Turner, Barry, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:46 GMT 09:46 UK

It's Eire that has voted yes, not Ireland. - [David Campbell, Cheshire]

This is incorrect. Eire is the name of the country in the Irish language. Ireland (in short form) or The Republic of Ireland (in long form) is the name of the country in the English language.

The term "the island of Ireland" refers to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Your post seems a little to me like sour grapes that Ireland is no longer under the thumb of the UK.

AM Duffy, Brussels, Belgium

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:41 GMT 09:41 UK

Yes we've had experience of the EU, it cost us 14 million a day.
Please someone tell me what we recieve for that.

They use our army hugely, but I dont see other EU members putting in the same effort.

The EU is a farce, wake up and smell the coffee.

Pipeworm Netcrawler, Bristol

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:08 GMT 09:08 UK

The united states of europe would indeed seem a worth-while goal.Observing from the outside you are getting a federal dictatorship.To achieve a united states, a simple constitution that lays out the rights of individuals and the duties of those elected to govern,anything more or less you will create a nightmare.Legalese and convolutions do not constitute a constitution.A federated europe ruled by unelected failed politicians and career lawyer bureaucrats is what you will get. gettinggrumpier

wayne job, broadford

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 07:33 GMT 08:33 UK

Forget all the bigotry and stupidity for a moment.Does anyone really think that 27 different countries, different religions,cultures and needs can work together as a cohesive unit?I don't think so. As long as you have coutries like France and Germany who throw their toys out of the pram if they don't get their way, how can they work together?Look at the UK since B-Liar and Salmond orchestrated this devolution rubbish, the bigotry,dislike and pure malevolence stands out like a beacon. Unworkable.

Maximus, Boxgrove UK

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 07:25 GMT 08:25 UK

We're all just "persons" now!

As a "person" is the creation of the state, the state can decide exactly what to do with it.

Back in the day when you were human beings that HAD a person, you always had the option to reject the state's governance (rule by CONSENT). Now common law has been flushed down the toilet (read "constitutional reform"), you are effectively a slave to the state.

Mmmmm! Modern day slavery! Feels goooood....

(P.S. When do I get my Verichip??)

Steve Lave, Luton, Formerly in England