In Referendum Vote Irish Accept The EU Fiscal Treaty

With over 60.3% of the Irish electorate voting 'Yes' last week, Ireland joined Portugal, Greece, and Slovenia in becoming the fourth Eurozone country to ratify the Fiscal Treaty which will come into effect on 1 January 2013, if by that time 70% or 12 of the 17 members of the Eurozone have ratified it.

Speaking at Dublin Castle after the official results were declared Taoiseach Enda Kenny welcomed the result of the referendum, saying that "The Irish people have sent a powerful message around the world that this country is serious about solving its economic problems.

"The clear decisive message of the Irish people will help create the stability and certainty that this country needs.

"Today has been a good day's work for all of us," he added, saying that he wanted the Irish people to be the 'winners of Europe.'

The news was also received with enthusiasm by European Union President Herman Van Rompuy who said in a statement that Irish voters had proven their "endorsement [of] and commitment to European integration.

"This result is an important step towards recovery and stability."

Ireland is the only EU country to vote on the pact designed to strengthen fiscal discipline and ensure balanced budgets.

"A yes vote is a necessary step on the road to recovery. We have to build on the Irish people's decision made in favour of stability," said Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, whose Labour Party campaigned for a yes vote along with coalition partner Fine Gael.

"We now have to press ahead with a program for recovery here and with the growth agenda in Europe," Gilmore added. "We have to get a deal on bank debt. Work has been progressing on this for some time and we need to see progress on it."

Declan Ganley who campaigned for a No vote said he hoped that the result would not send out a signal to Europe that Ireland was happy with the status quo.

"Ireland is not okay. The banking debt situation has not been resolved. I hope the government, which has worked so hard for this result, will be treated fairly in Europe after having achieved it," he said.

Only 50 per cent of the electorate of 3.1 million voted in Thursday's referendum on ratification of the pact.