DEMONSTRATORS FROM the People's Movement (Gluaiseacht an Phobail), an Irish anti-Lisbon group, gathered outside the council building in Brussels yesterday to protest against what they see as the a "railroading" of the Irish electorate into voting again on the Lisbon Treaty.
Decked out in masks depicting French president Nicolas
Sarkozy, Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British prime minister Gordon Brown, the protesters brandished placards reading, "Politicians know best", "Ignore the Irish", "No means yes" and "We're still not listening".
The organisation's secretary, Frank Keoghan, explained the rally. "We want to show our dismay, really, at the latest moves.
"We fear, and we're very serious about this, that the EU is moving into a post-democratic phase, because we are getting back the same treaty, irrespective of declarations, irrespective
of how solemn they are, irrespective of how legal they say they are."
At a summit meeting expected to run late into tonight, EU leaders must reach agreement on a French presidency document, which would see Ireland retaining a commissioner and getting "legal guarantees" on issues such as taxation, family, social and ethical issues and security and defence policy - as long as a second referendum is won before the end of next October.
"This may be a very bad occasion for those who think they can railroad us," Mr Keoghan said.
"Irish people are not going to be railroaded this time.
It's a sad day for the EU. The ramifications of this will be felt."