A vox-pop from Dublin South-West
JANE SHERLOCK (21)
Unemployed
“I didn’t vote last year because I was out of the country but I’m definitely voting Yes this time. We’re a tiny island and we can’t go it alone. Europe pulled us up off our knees 30 years ago, and if we say No we might be back on our knees again. I think a No vote would be like cutting off our nose to spite our face. I have been unemployed since October last year so maybe voting Yes will help people like me.”
PAT LYONS (67)
Taxi driver
“I’ll be voting No because I think the Government is selling us out all the time in the EU. I have voted No in all previous EU referendums but I’m not against the EU per se.
“The way I see it the bureaucrats over there are just making jobs for themselves. They’re all in collusion with each other like the Government here. I think the No vote will carry again this time but it won’t be as big as last year.”
AMY BRUNELL (20)
Supermarket employee
“I didn’t vote last year but I will vote No on Friday. I don’t know much about the treaty but my mother voted No last year and she told me I should vote No.
“Everybody I know, all my family and friends, are voting No. I don’t think a No vote will make any difference, it won’t be the end of the world.”
DERMOT HICKEY (54) Charity fundraiser
“I voted No last year, as did most of my family and friends, but it wasn’t for any specific reason. It had more to do with what I was hearing around me and the general mood.
“I think people are looking more deeply at the issues this time and not just taking their cue from the campaigns and posters. We’re all concerned because the country is up the pole and we don’t know what way to turn.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet but my wife is sticking with her No vote. She is afraid we’re losing our identity, and our sense of Irishness.”
AISLING KILBRIDE (21) Student
“I voted No last year and I’ll be voting No again this week. I have a lot of worries about how the Lisbon Treaty is going to affect our tax rates and the minimum wage – it’s bad enough as it is.
“There’s a lot of scaremongering going on but I think the Government is only using the recession as an excuse to scare people into voting Yes.
“A lot of people I know are complaining about the fact we have to vote on this again.”
KEVIN DAVIS (67)
Retired tailor
“I decided not to vote last year because I didn’t fully understand what the treaty was about. This year I’m voting Yes.
“I think the whole thing has been a lot better explained this time and I believe it will be a resounding Yes.
“Look at all the help the EU has given us over the years. We would have gone under a long time ago if we weren’t part of the EU.
“It would be a real slap in the face to Europe if we voted No.”
JOHN O’RAFFERTY (26)
Software employee
“I voted Yes last year but I have yet to make up my mind for definite this time round.
“Why? Because some Sinn Féin canvassers called last night and I thought they made good points on issues to do with our neutrality and militarisation. I think a lot of people voted No last year because of a fear of the unknown.
“This was especially true of younger voters. Young people are not as silly and easily influenced as politicians would like to make out.
PAUL BLAKE (49)
Taxi driver
“I’ll be voting Yes just as I did last year. It makes sense if you look at what Europe has given us. It’s far more than what we have given back. I think last year people just didn’t know enough about it and the Yes side didn’t push it hard enough. People voted No because they didn’t understand what they were being asked to vote on. I think a lot of people have changed their minds since then though and, from what I’m hearing in the taxi and from family and friends, I would predict a landslide for the Yes side.”
IN INTERVIEWS WITH MARY FITZGERALD