Just because we’re independent and able to make our own decisions doesn’t neccessarily mean we’d be making the _right_ decision.

we are so independent that we all listen to Merkel, get a grip Damocies, there is no independence here anymore, irish people make me feel sick, sheeple

What defines sheeple? What’s the singular by the way?

Could you explain that one? And they are not itching to join anymore. Very far from it.

The Turkish economy is doing extremely well at the moment and joining the EU us no longer a desire of the country. They don’t want to take on the troubles Europe is facing and that’s a sensible decision

That is my point exactly. The economy is growing and the EU dream fades into the memory. But then the very idea of Turkey scares people for some reason. All the people who liked the Zombie comment above, perhaps? Rest east folks the Turks aren’t coming, they’re staying right where they are.

Rest easy I mean..

So its ok for everyone to go on holiday to turkey But oh no dont let them into our screwed up little club. Haven’t actually heard no good reason from anyone as to why they shouldn’t be aloud. Arrangements usually go along the line of it will increase the Muslim population by about 150% (Currently about 45m, Turkey about 75m)

134 people liked that comment do them people not realise eu is seen as a drain on the Turkish economy If they joined I have great friend from turkey and they told me that they government has said they have no desire to join the eu and soon enough eu citizens will want to come to turkey and they will say no like we did to them .

I think we should take back control of Ireland to Dublin. The Brits don’t like the idea of there borders being open to any country in the EU because to be honest a lot of the immigrants that come are only in to use the welfare system which is better than their countries . The Brits also want to make decisions for its own people and not be directed by Brussels . Bring on the red thumbs but think about it this is true .

British, on average pay less tax than they receive on public services. Immigrants in britain on average pay more than they receive. Im sure its similar here. Stop demonising immigrants for cock ups that happenned elsewjere….i.e for every finger you point at an immigrant point 2 back at yourself.

Daniel, religion is one aspect of the barrier to Turkish entry, but only a very small aspect. Major reservations are also held in terms of Turkish political corruption, humanitarian rights, taxation, corporate/industrial relations legislation, inequality, its relationship with Greece over Cyprus, free trade, agriculture, infrastructure, proximity to unstable regions in middle east (nice as buffer zone so to speak) etc.

The scale of taking in a member state now with a population equating to 15-20% of current membership while GDP per cap is about third of EU average. Would take huge investment to bring Turkish infrastructure and agriculture to EU average, let alone laws/humanitarian rights/cultural alignment to EU social norms etc.

You assume the EU and Uk wont have a trade agreement? Many countries have trade preference agreements with EU why wouldnt UK?

You assume that members would not get preferential treatment.

If they don’t get preferential treatment, then what is the point of membership?

That would make Ireland a “Venue”, kinda shallow.

Ireland with a low corp tax already is a ‘venue’ for lot of FDI, who set up and remain due to tax purposes – as long as brings jobs, innovation and productive the positives out way negatives. Even if UK and Euro have trade agreements in place e.g Iceland/Switzerland many U.S/BRIC firms ‘looking in’ would prefer a member part of the larger more powerful block. This provides them with stability and access to EU powerhouses such as Germany and much larger single market – rather then a sideline country with trade agreement which can be revoked or damaged if trade war occurs.

If UK leaves EU, it will not want to isolate itself and duly will try to build EU wide trade agreements or stand alone agreements with countries such as Ireland. Either way could have negative but also very positive consequences for Ireland. I believe will all play out on how EU/UK economy is at that stage however. Strong EU/Euro would push UK towards maintaining membership or indeed strengthening links, weak or crumbling EU/Euro and may decide to jump sinking ship so to speak.

Leave the European Union.
Rejoin the ‘real’ union.
Put the flags flying 365.
Rename Queenstown and Kingstown.
We have proved we cannot be left to run our own affairs.
Please have us back ma’am.

As illustrated in this short video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmUiUXMEyRw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

John, brilliant link … i saw the video before :D]
But in all seriousness, following the failed parties like FF/FFG/Labour any more is just crazy. There are plenty of alternatives to vote for now, to finally start putting this country on the right track.
To leave the EU, because some nut-jobs who still pray to portraits of the Queen of England, makes no sense. Prior to joining the EU, the UK accounted for over 70% of our export market. This is no longer the case. We are in a Global economy and our economic fate is no longer controlled by our nearest neighbour.
If the UK does decide to leave the EU, then you must take a step back and look at the bigger picture in terms of opportunity for us a Nation. The UK will need Ireland to act as the gateway for its products to the rest of the European markets. We will be net beneficiaries of a UK exit, as long we we remain in-side the EU. Otherwise, we will end up back in the same position position we were in prior to 1973.

@voiceofsense:

Voice of nonsense.

Exactly. The EU has too much say in our Country and we should change this. England can see the way the wind is blowing and is going to give its people the right to choose.
I wonder if they will use the lies, intimidation and bully boy tactics our Govt used to get the result they want.

I don’t know how to answer that :) wondered why these people don’t just go off and think about it and then come back with their answer rather than clicking the no opinion option the second they see it.

I agree Karolyn

Sometimes people select don’t know if they want to see pie chart, but do not express an opinion.

They click don’t know because they haven’t heard all the arguments yet and the want to see the poll results.

I’d rather be a “thicko from the island” who’s smart enough to realise that they are not yet in a position to give an educated answer than a know-it-all reactionary genius from the mainland who votes instantly

As Socrates said “true knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing”

But I’m curious, would you be willing to make such derogatory statements about any other coy try based on such insignificant evidence?

Funnily enough, I have the exact opposite view on it. I can’t understand how people can have such strong opinions on what would be a very complex situation. Of course leaving itself is a yay or nay response but how could anyone make an informed judgement as to whether it would be good or bad for us? It might be good in the short term, bad in the long, vice versa, neither. It might depend on perspective, for example it might benefit us in some industries/sectors and not so well in others. It seems to me the only logical choice is “I don’t know”, anything else is just guesswork and bias.

Although, admittedly, some guesswork is more informed than others

Well. it is only a poll on a website, it’s not like you are signing a legal document, should everyone pay a trip to the library before voting on polls? Come on

Where did I say that? (I’m sure you’ve already done this but….) Read some of the comments on this site, not just this article alone, and you’ll see the strength some people have in their convictions. All I’m asking, is how anyone can feel so strongly about something, when in reality, they can’t possibly foresee its impact? And, in that context how can they they belittle others for differing opinions, and resort to name calling. As I said, the only logical option, at least to me, is to acknowledge that I don’t know whether we should leave the EU or not. It could work in the short term, to the detriment of the long term, vice versa, neither etc etc.

I’m not an economist and I don’t fully understand the knock-on effects of leaving the European Union. I don’t really even understand legislation we benefit from at the moment. Not to mention the EU and the EEC are separate entities, maybe we’ll remain in the EEC, like Switzerland? In that case, what do we lose and what do we hold onto? Do we have to leave the Euro if we leave the EU? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don’t know. I’d be surprised if anyone here really knows.

So, maybe the “gobshyte” is the person who insists their opinion is heard when they have no clue what they are talking about. Economic policy? Tell everyone to **** off, we’re not paying for anything! Immigration? Tell them to **** off, they can’t come in! Europe? Tell them to **** off, we’re leaving!

Maybe, if you don’t understand something, it’s best not to make rash decisions about it. Reactionary politics is definitively a bad thing.

Neutrality! Now that’s another can of worms. What is Irish neutrality? What was it ever? IMHO it was never anything other than a flag of convenience for cynical politicians to hide behind when it came time o stand up and make a moral choice. Whenever someone parrots Irish neutrality I reach for the bullshit barometer!

As far as i have read the irish guy was not let go but rather escaped with a bomb tied around his neck ..

Neutrality is a load of bs btw with the refueling of American Planes at shannon airport..

Matt yes I know what your saying,thinking about shannon as an US base and all that, and army personnel in Afghanistan .But at least we are not spending millions on bombs and the like so thats a bonus. I would like a national debate on the point and our foreign relations policy it should not be left up to a few civil servants and the EU.Noam Chomkys hedgemony or survival is a must read and it shows who is the bad guys in the most part

Sorry. I stopped reading when you started quoting Silvio Berlusconi, that bastion of integrity, to back up your argument. Good old Silvio. Sure you’d be mad to not just eat up whatever he says and take it as the unvarnished truth.

b silivo haha I think the interview was Lance Armstrong copy he answered all questions (well the bit I saw) on all the thorny issues like his relationship with that woman….. Angela Merkel and on the war in Libya so in that context i used it to show what relly happens and why (it was the oil) he didnt give another reason for the bombing which if he chose to lie he could have had im sure. note taken i wont use him aging unless its of a sexual nature

Silvio Berlusconi was quite happy to let Italian jets and airbases be used in ridding Libya of his good friend, and happy to have the same bases used in the campaigns in Iraq… so anything he says about the little hungarian frenchman has to be taken with a large measure of salt.. and how do you know Blair’s kids have Irish passports? And what exactly is neutrality – is it having the ability to shoot aircraft violating airspace out of teh sky or just the right to sit under NATO’s security umbrella, free loading as usual?

@sean Tony Blair kids? very easy it was on national tv and he was asked the question to a very uncomfortable blair and I think it exited to a break then.
In regards to nato exactly my point why are we in any way tied to them with out a national debate as with other things in Ireland its under the surface and hidden from the public.
Berlusconi was asked the question why he didnt lead the way in Libya and he was telling it in the context of how France started it and why.

Noam Chomsky gets to write books like that because he lives in the liberal west and enjoys all the freedoms and privileges that come with it. This is a good thing, but let’s stop the pretense that the west is the ultimate evil in the world. There is no such thing as neutrality, it only works if you don’t get invaded or can find somebody else to do the fighting. As Von Clausewitz said: you may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.

*propping – there really should be a 60 sec edit window on comments!

Or you could read them before you post them?

Tony, Tony oh my man please tell us the benefits that are coming our way!!!
Remember lisbon two all the jobs all the good times we were told were coming ? im still waiting as is the rest of Europe. Yeah I can see it now Dell leaving Poland and all them low wage Polish behind to return to our shores because we saved Europe. Options or choices thats the point .
And just one more we did put some money into the pot for their banks but not it all ,no the want the rest of it dont for get thats why the are agreeing to let us pay more over the next few generations. MY kids and grands will be paying for the mistakes that happened in the boom/bust that was not the peoples doing rather the banking sectors.
so im waiting for an answer on the good times?

Declan, You are leaving out the likes of Google, Facebook, Intel, Hewlett Packard, and all the multi-national pharamceutical companies that are based here, because of our relationship to the EU. They need easy access to European markets, we are an English speaking nation (whic is also a major contributing factor).
Dell left for 2 reasons…
1) It was primarily an assembly site, and did not require skilled workers. So why would a company like Dell pay Irish workers 10 euro an hour, when it could get the same workers in Poland for 3 euro an hour. Logical business decision.
2) Dell was continually facing labour shortages (during the Celtic Tiger, this was a real problem for many companies). Yeah, this woulndt be a factor now, but 8 years ago, it was a real issue. Dell was approaching Prison Govenors to ask them to ask people expected to be released shortly to come straight to work at their plant in Limerick. How the hell would that business model be sustainable?
Our economy was on steroids due to the flood of cheap credit and full employment. This was bad for sustainable growth, and drove wages up to an unsustainable noncompetitive level and it was down to bad economic planning by Governments over a 10 year period that resulted in companies like Dell leaving.
Our wages went high, because the cost of living and buying homes went out of control, wages had to follow the cost of living. As i said already, this was down to extremely poor economic strategic planning.

Cal oh i see now. sorry for being so silly i didnt know that we Irish had some thing special that the likes of Google etc could only find here. No one with brains else where in Europe then all computer illiterate else where, its not as if another country could supply them with the things the need to stay here,like a tax haven, grants, subsidy’s, a direct line to government (dinner with the pharma guys).
Ok i see now i will rest easy now knowing all that you have pointed out!!!

Declan, i am not arguing the Tax Haven piece, i agree that they should be paying their fair share of Tax. If we are outside the EU, then the Tax Haven element is fully removed, and these companies will have no vested interest in staying here. Be careful what you wish for. Outside the EU, Ireland has no vested strategic position to offer these companies.

Looking forward to access to the ESM.

Cal, haven’t you heard? It was all our fault. (sarcasm).

Cal1 whether we stay in or out the tax haven still applies, only thing that could change it is if we do stay in and others make us change it.
wage costs ok no argument there.
Ireland outside the EU will have no impact as what will change? we will still be speaking english, tax haven will be still around and im sure that a trade agreement of some sort will be in place.
The one and only reason the are here is tax haven, the import other nationalitys here with languages why could the not bring them into say France or more likely Poland?
We have one good thing that all nations want FOOD, we have farmers hampered from producing as much as the can because of the EU.We should and will be feeding the EU from oh and supplying them with oil and gas if we get to keep it that is

Well if we leave the EU we could (not saying should but it would be a possibility) default and leave our debts behind us so saying were “literally invested too much” not true. On the matter of the UK leaving if they did our two largest trading partners would be out side the EU. So that needs to be considered. One one final point if the UK does leave it will probably keep ties along the lines of Switzerland and Iceland through the European Economic Area.

yeah Tony, stay with the gangsters that have robbed you blind, really it makes me so angry to read such crap comments, are you such a fool you want to stay in Europe, which by the way is ran by Merkel, who also runs Ireland
are you such a sheeple you can’t see what is really happening
sad case

Brilliant comment.

Sure Tony! We would be some powerhouse outside.

These things happened because we elected FFools and FGhouls, along with a bunch of careerist traitors in the so called Labour party.

How would things be better if we were outside the EU?

because if you and when you mention this point you are firstly called a racist and the argument starts on that issue. We are a tiny population and could/will be over run if this were to happen also the point that is covered up that we as a nation pay childrens allowance to kids that dont live in Ireland and may never have even seen our shores, noting to do with being born here either.The pay it to children of people who work in Ireland and are EU residents. Just one of the things that need sorting out. As a small country we should have a safe guard limit of a certain amount of people coming in.

Declan, common sense, it’s simple common sense. Why its being ignored I have no idea but the consequences will be catastrophic for this tiny island.

Romanian & Bulgarian citizens have had full access to the Irish labour market since the 17th of July 2012. Perhaps you are confusing Ireland with the UK where then don’t get that right until 2014.

Link: http://www.djei.ie/labour/workpermits/bulgariaromania.htm

What, Stiofan? They’ve had a whole SIX MONTHS to invade, en masse, and take our (non existant) jobs and our wimmins? Must be ninjas, not Bulgarians!

Look to the right in the link article ‘related news’.. Govt decides to maintain restrictions til Jan 14

Look to the right in the link article ‘related news’.. Govt decides to maintain restrictions til Jan 14..”16th December 2011
The Government announced today [Friday] that the current restrictions on access to the Irish labour market by Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are to continue in place until the end of 2013.” Thats a direct quote

heres a link http://www.djei.ie/press/2011/20111216a.htm

Sam – The “related news” piece you’re referring to is from December 2011. The government decided to lift the caps, ahead of the deadline, since July 2012 as Stiofán said.

http://www.thejournal.ie/government-drops-restrictions-on-romanian-and-bulgarian-workers-528205-Jul2012/

So .. have you all learned Bulgarian yet?

The issue is the Irish social welfare system, not immigration.

Maybe … but then Leinster house would be able to play currency games. Don’t you think that is even more risky?

Yes – between 1922 and 1972 we were fully independent of the UK and the EU.

Well if it i snot the EU it has to be our politicians, but never us, who put them there. How many of the whingers here voted last time out and how many of them voted FF the time before that?

And how many voted yes to the fiscal compact?

Dream on.

Mike
Economies don’t run their course, they move in cycles and our current downturn is exaggerated because the last upturn was the most prolonged in modern history. Based on your viewpoint the Chinese economy is finished and the United States will see the Confederation breaking up!

@Mark I think he is talking about the ‘busines cycle’- booms and bust which countries experience. the celtic tiger was was a ‘boom’ and therefore part of the business cycle.

i agree with you Mike, i exactly join your comment
pity there is no one else who think like you, all the comments are written by sheeples on too much fluoride
sad lot

The tinfoil hat brigade is out in force i see. Look to history to see what would most likely happen if the EU collapses, or if we leave.

We shouldn’t blindly and slavishly accept EU hegemony, but nor should we shoot ourselves in the foot just because the current leaders are a bunch of eejits.

@ censored “The tinfoil hat brigade” are you serious ? your acting exactly like out politicians !!

No I suppose the billions we got out of cohesion funds over forty years were no good to us at all.

Bloody hell Jim, a few roads and bypasses built around Dublin, a few old cottages re-roofed?
Just how long are you going to deny the fact of the billions upon billions we’ve paid back and not just through the imposition of bank debt either…do you remember that??- when the EU forced us to take on them debts..it’s still happening.
What about the surrendering of our sugar manufacturing?..y’know where we stop producing sugar and buy it in instead?
Financial stories aside, the EU is democratically deficient, it’s morphed from a trading agreement into a regime where the larger countries rule, only a masochist would choose to stay in a club like that.

How much of eu debt do we have yes 42% of all eu debt , 9000 for each and every one of us if that’s even an accurate figure , in comparison to 192 for all our other eu citizens, thanks Enda great negotiation skill we need someone like Pearse d over there who would not let them saddle us with 42% of all debt ! Our sovereignty is gone thanks to Enda after brave men not school boys died for it , our natural resources are being ripped from under our feet and our children’s and their children’s to come. Oh we had a few motor ways built etc aren’t we paying for them now. I will not have kids in this country , debt slaves for their whole lives thanks to Enda and his school teachers in leaving and like a lot of people i talk to we think we will never be able to return. Enough Is enough we have no voice in eu we are suffering it has to stop because it will get worse

We don’t have 42% of EU debt, don’t be silly. Go and read the article again.

We have benefited enormously from the EU. Not just a few roads and cottages, but a world class infrastructure including telco infrastructure that we were never able to afford to build for ourselves.

Leave the EU, and do what? Go back to being England’s food producers?

We need to grow up and realize that if we’re in a mess it’s our own fault, the people we put in leadership positions, our childish attitude towards the EU – the EU is not our sugar daddy, they can help us or cause more problems. It’s up to us to decide our destiny and the EU is just a tool.

On the contrary censored, we don’t have control of our destiny, did we have a say in the bailout..the bank guarantee…the surrendering of sugar production…entry into the euro currency??
The bailout was forced upon us, the bank guarantee was bullied and imposed on us and all to protect the banking cartels and a currency that was brought in here without mandate, debate or whether we wanted in or out.
When we do have a say it’s gesture politics, the most recent referendum on the austerity treaty Noonan threatened a severe budget if we didn’t play like they wanted, Lisbon and Nice?…sure have a vote but if you say no we’ll be back until you say yes.
Our politicians are accountable to no-one here and the EU technocrats are accountable to nobody whatsoever…it’s erroneous to even suggest we have self determination.

And what exactly does the future hold? Better the devil you know!

We are tho.

here here, well said

GODWIN’S LAW. Less than an hour after the article was written.
It was inevitable I suppose that somebody would post the usual lazy, xenophobic reply.

Actually Claire it was dreamt up by a French Politician who saw it as the only way to stop Germany going to war again – and it worked: Western Europe is in its longest continuous period of peace ever

Well said !

Nice conjecture being offered here, the EU was set up to stop Germany going to war by giving them what they want and we all get awarded the nobel peace prize

Goodwins law, while speaking about Germany. Ever try and suck a stick of chewing gum and not chew…..very difficult. Near impossible. Doesn’t make the comment less credible IMHO.

The “United States of Europe” was actually dreamed up by Winston Churchill who advocated a European Union in a famous post-war speech in Zurich, Switzerland. His idea was a mutually dependent Europe would not go to war with itself. He has been proved right.

So not exactly an idea by “retired Nazis” :)

Agreed, I don’t think Godwin’s Law can be invoked in this case, the ECSC was the brainchild of French politician Robert Schuman, the logic being that if Germany’s economy was linked to France’s, they would never attack France again as it would be to their own ultimate detriment. I was happy with the European Union up until it went beyond the realms of economic cooperation, the lack of democracy and two fingers to smaller countries is disturbing. Ireland’s government will never vote to leave or follow the UK, to them Brussels is filled with Egyptian gods that they adore.

Certainly agree,they tried taking Europe twice with devastating consequences that destroyed nations by force,and ruined economies.in some respects it’s happening again but there going down the political route to keep there economy at top off the class.sometimes you just have to stick up for yourself but we are minnows we need alliances to have any clout or say.

The stuff about the Germans is just a load of nonsense. All nations look out for their own interests first, except for the Irish it seems.

Nut jobs at UKIP ? same old mantra no wonder we all in the sh** , and you think FIANNA FAIL and LABOUR are not nutjobs ? lol……dear god above !!!

So Europe is doing no good because the UK is not part of it? Well wouldnt the sensible option be follow the UK then as as you say they are so important?
So the UK think they are so important, that must mean that we are we do not think ourselves are?
And we had no wars because Germany was beaten by the UK with America etc…….

“our european borrowing”…do you mean bailout, the bailout the EU was complicit in forcing upon us?

Imagine if you will, control of our own seas and who fishes them, the market for fish from the wild north Atlantic in land locked countries, making our own sugar again not buying it in like we were told to back a few years ago and the still open market to the EU…oh wait, Norway is poverty stricken as a result of staying outside the EU isn’t it?

Being forced to pay into the ESM, billions at the drop of a hat, but sorry lads ya can’t get anything out!! We owe nothing, have paid our dues and more to the point, it was never our debt in the first place. Let German/French investors gamble in Italian banks and ask for the unsecured debt to be paid back after they lost it!! Whollop end of! Game over.

@dermit , yeah there’s a banking mess alrite and of course innocent Irish that we are are not responsible for any of that , but separately the point I was making , is that to run the bleeding island costs around 15bn more than we get in every year , and without BORROWING that from Europe ( no one else will lend ) we would probably have to slash welfare , close hospitals schools etc etc and I was asking how people might respond , a rant about the banking crisis is all well and good , but our track record at trying the country on our own looks pretty crappy to be honest , the debate was about exiting Europe and its interesting debate , but your mistaken by mixing up the bank crisis with our irelands own public spending mess which is a massive problem , one that by the way would be infinitely more difficult to fix without borrowing from Europe.

I take your point but why should we just concede that we’re tied to the EU because after they forced a bailout on us they are the only ones who will support us, it’s battered wife syndrome – I will abuse you, degrade you but you’ll never leave because I have it instilled in your mind that no-one else would have you, you’re here forever, the eternal victim, you can’t support yourself..you’re incapable, you’re nothing more than 4 million idiots compiled into one entity…but I love you, you’re special, here’s a tenner, go buy a hat and you can pay me back in monthly installments of 50′s.

hmmm , well re Norway we dont have anything like their oil and resources to compare or be able stick two fingers up to the union , in relation to europe im not suggesting we do the battered wife role at all , im merely pointing out how easy it is to sit on the sidelines and moan about the bad things and call for to leave and do our own thing , but a cold hard look at the facts , our record at running the country and any likely impact of exiting hardly looks that appealing in any real measure , fine lets leave and tell them to f off , agree not to pay anything back and go alone , now go look at the reality instead of the bullshit , what state of play would ireland on its own we really be in ? That was the basis of my comment on the issue,

Well we have plenty of resources but that’s for another debate on whether we start doing things here for the benefit of the nation or just give it away……

RE: Norway again, I brought them up as a reaction to how no country can survive without the watchful eye of EU technocrats, I wouldn’t dare mention Iceland because we’re not them, they had balls. (Have you ever wondered how their turnaround is never mentioned these days?)

The sad reality is that all our parties and political elite are inept cowards content to sit at the table and pretend they make a difference, we’re minnows in Europe, always were and always will be.
We were bribed into secession and being bribed to remain their servile dog, I don’t buy into the straw man fallacy that we elect our TD’s so it’s our own fault we’re nothing but the whipping boys of the EU, it’s our own fault the country is in this mess because we voted for FF, FG or any of the other soundalike parties, it’s our fault we let them away with such ineptness sure and nothing will change unless we want it, and choosing not to question our quasi religious allegiance to a democratically void and one sided regime like the EU means we’re content to be the battered wife, by not questioning the legality and morality of the EU imposition of debt assures them that we’re only too happy to pay.

Ok so we leve the eu. Now we are independent, great! Only prob is we are still being run by the same spineless morons who got us into the eu. We still have the same systems of government, personalities and advisors as before. So why in the bowels of Christ would leaving the eu make us any better off? The morons in govt will just do what they always have in the past and f#%k it all up.

Exactly Mark, and their distraction tactics are working with everybody blaming the Germans/the EU/the ECB/mysterious forces instead of looking to our own house.

Wow censored, you really have selected amnesia, would you like a recap on how or bank guarantee and subsequent bailout came about?
Would you like to know more about the ECB acting beyond their remit in imposing such debt upon us and how the EU is playing us for fools by dragging a deal on a debt that was never ours in the first place?

There’s more channels than RTE that deliver news you know…

so i take it your a no vote then?

Lunatics??? I dont see any out landish comments! perhaps you just have a strong opinion and cant find any thing to say your self either way?

lunatics eh……so your saying all the lot in dail eireann commented on this poll so cos from what i see there the only lunatics i see with the way they run things

Idiotic poll eh?
Yeah it’s pure idiocy to consider the very real prospect of the UK leaving and us having not just a national border on our doorstep but a full European one, does the consequences of that enter into your thinking or is it just lunatics who are able to put cognitive reasoning into what could turn out to be a massive shift in the European landscape?

and more lunatics.

Lots of thumbs down here but this is by far the best comment amoungst all the gibberish.
It would be jumping off a bridge. The UK may have he means and the knowledge to leave the EU but our politicians couldn’t find their way out of a paperbag. Leaving would be suicide – but statistics show that the Irish are increacingly using suicide as a way out. Such a shame!

The UK might leave because their financial sector is so important to them (and to the Tory party, I might add) and they don’t want any regulation.

Those are the folks who created this problem in the first place!

Tesco has great deals on tinfoil and there’s some nice designs on hats to be found on google.

I suspect you missed the joke Dermot. Think “modest proposal”

Sweet mary mother of god.

Leaving the EU wouldn’t affect our corporation tax, quite the contrary.

It would affect how much tax is collected from all the multinational corporations that are no longer based in Ireland.