Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
COUNTING OF VOTES in the Fiscal Compact referendum is set to begin at 9 o’clock this morning with suggestions that the low turnout may affect the final result.
Turnout was low across the country yesterday with many poll stations reporting low turnouts than in previous comparable referendums. Bad weather, a mid-week vote, and a lack of engagement with the referendum is being seen as the reason for the lower than expected turnout. RTE.ie suggests that turnout will struggle to hit 50 per cent.
In comparison, previous referendums saw turnouts of 34.9 per cent (the first Nice vote), 49.5 per cent (the second Nice vote), 53.1 per cent (the first Lisbon vote) and 59 per cent (the second Lisbon vote).
3.13 million people were entitled to vote, suggesting that around 1.6 million people did not cast their ballot.
The Telegraph cites ‘secret Irish government exit polls‘ which predicted a Yes victory by around 60 per cent to 40 per cent. The figure is comparable to opinion polls which took place before the vote which found a similar result once undecided voters were ruled out. However government parties have not confirmed that any such exit poll even took place, and the result has not been reported anywhere else.
Counting will take place at 26 individual count centres nationwide with the overall result to be announced from the central results centre in Dublin Castle.
The length of time that the count takes will depend on the number of votes cast and whether the vote is tight or not. The first indications of results is expected later this morning with a result likely by early evening.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Sir Tony obviously didn’t bribe the right politicians, DOB learned from that mistake…
Matt Cooper should understand that it’s aggregate demand (people needing stuff in basic terms) that creates jobs, not capitalists like Tony O’Reilly. Capitalist firms will not create a single job without the expectation of profit. That profit is generated by the workers in the excess value they create through their labour over and above the wages they receive. That is the essence of capitalism which is intrinsically exploitative.
The real wealth of goods and services that we all depend on is created by the labour and skill of the working class from the raw material of the planet.
The money which the capitalists exploit labour to accumulate is created (and deleted) at will on the computer keyboards of the world’s commercial and central banks. Money is a claim on the real wealth produced by the working class and this is where money derives it’s power.
Socialism is about distributing that wealth fairly among those who have actually created it, the working class, who represent the vast majority in society while preventing vast wealth accumulating to the minority capitalist class like Mr. O’Reilly.
@Wally; Couldn’t agree more!
Great post!
Thanks for the economics lesson … wally.
Dream on on in lala land
Tony O’Reilly was indeed many things. Mostly though he was a wankr.
Tony O’Reilly. The consumate West Brit.
Michael O’Leary of Ryanair always pays his taxes here – in contrast to Dr./ Sir/ Whatever/ Tony O’Reilly, who chose simply not to, despite being inordinately wealthy.
Which is why I respect Michael O’Leary – and view O’Reilly as a blight that was vaunted in Irish public life for far too long.
Simples really.
The sooner the better it happens that incredibly wealthy tax exiles / fugitives be banned and not vaunted. This is what occurs in the U.S. who require blighters to return their passports if they do not wish to pay for their citizenship.
What about the €400 million he raised for charitable causes in Ireland and the role he played in the peace process? The €500 million he poured into Waterford Wedgwood trying to save it? He may be many things but he did more than 99% of the population for this country, no one handed him his success but many stuck in the knife when it started to crumble
The role he played in the peace process, your having a laugh .
You lost me at Matt Cooper
Would he take offence being called a West Brit, I doubt it.
People who use their control of the media to bully and drive the government policy of a democratic country are a cancer on society, sir anto and independent news and media was an insidious cancer on Irish society.
Well said John, the peace process in N Ireland and the elimination of the IRA , is and was bad for business for Sir Tony and his acolytes at independent Plc.
I really don’t know who I hate the most, OReilly or O’Brien.
Ugh, he’s a rancid piece of work,, can’t stand him or the people that bow and scrape to him,,
Sir Tony O’Reilly.
A traitor.
Tony did great work in Ireland.
Why was he not bailed out by NAMA?
have your say