MAYO FINE Gael TD Michael Ring has praised those who voted No in the Lisbon Treaty, saying they had given their answer to the political establishment for dictating to them.
Mr Ring would not disclose yesterday how he had voted but he told The Irish Timeshe was "not all happy" with some aspects of the treaty and felt an empathy with the majority of people had rejected it.
Mr Ring said he had concerns about the loss of an Irish commissioner, as well as the over-regulation of activities that was causing a huge problem in Ireland.
"There are rules being implemented in this country that are not being applied in outer countries. Farmers cannot farm, fishermen cannot fish and people cannot cut turf. The situation is becoming impossible for people," he said.
"They kept on telling us during the campaign what Ireland got from Europe. Ireland gave a lot to Europe too. It was not all one-way traffic."
He also criticised Taoiseach Brian Cowen, and European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy. "What destroyed it was you had a Taoiseach who said that he had not read it and a commissioner who said he could not read it.
"Fair play to the people . . . The people gave the answer to the Government and to the rest of them when they tried to dictate to them. They showed independence. People are not stupid," he said.