Eamon Gilmore and Labour’s Joe Costello arrive at the Lisbon Treaty count centre in Dublin Castle, June 13, 2008



“I think the Lisbon Treaty is dead. The Irish people have now decided in a referendum that they do not wish to have it ratified therefore Ireland cannot ratify the Lisbon Treaty and therefore the Lisbon Treaty falls.” Eamon Gilmore, June 13, 2008.

“There is no basis for believing that a second referendum would produce a different result which is any different from the first one.” Eamon Gilmore following a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy (above), July 21, 2008.

“Gilmore, who has led calls against a second referendum has told the embassy separately that he fully expects, and would support holding a second referendum in 2009. He explained his public posture of opposition to a second reference as ‘politically necessary’ for the time being.” Ambassador Thomas Foley, in a cable sent on July 23, 2008, published in today’s Irish Independent (not online at present).

(Photocall Ireland/US State Dept.)