Ireland Starts Lisbon Treaty Poll Vote Counting

Turnout in Dublin rose to 44% by Friday evening in contrast to other parts of the country, where figures were as low as 10%. Photo by BGNES

Vote counting has begin Saturday morning in the Republic of Ireland's crucial second referendum on the European Union's Lisbon Treaty.

Counting was planned to started at 9 pm local time and the results would be relayed to the national count center in Dublin Castle where an announcement is expected by late afternoon.

Opinion polls and informal exit polls indicate that the country will say yes to the treaty - just 18 months after rejecting it in the first referendum.

An informal exit poll by the main opposition Fine Gael party estimated a 60% "Yes" vote, Irish broadcaster RTE reported, as cited by the BBC.

Three million people were eligible to vote in the Irish referendum.

Turnout in Dublin rose to 44% by Friday evening in contrast to other parts of the country, where figures were as low as 10%.

Irish media reported a late surge as commuters returned home from work.

The treaty, aimed at streamlining EU decision-making, cannot take effect unless all member states ratify it.

A considerable proportion of those voting said they had switched from "No" to "Yes" this time around.

In last year's vote, 46.6% voted "Yes" and 53.4% "No".

Last year's rejection of the treaty by Irish voters plunged the 27-nation bloc into political gridlock.

Analysts say a "Yes" vote this time around would be a big step towards ratification.

The only other countries yet to ratify the treaty are Poland and the Czech Republic.

The Republic of Ireland agreed to stage a second referendum after winning guarantees on key areas of policy which it blamed for last year's rejection - such as its military neutrality, abortion and tax laws.

All of the republic's major parties campaigned for a "Yes" vote except the nationalist Sinn Fein. The party believes rejecting the treaty would mean a more democratic EU.

The Lisbon Treaty is intended to sharpen EU institutions following the bloc's rapid eastward expansion since 2004.

Treaty's opponents see it as part of a federalist agenda that threatens national sovereignty.

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