Madam, - I am sure I am not speaking only for myself when I say that, as someone who voted No, I am not represented by Libertas, Cóir, Sinn Féin or any of the socialist parties.
It is now up to the Government to communicate with the people to understand why we voted No. A country-wide public consultation must be organised as a matter of priority.
It is essential that this takes place for two reasons. First, it is clear the Government has no knowledge of the citizens' thoughts on this matter; and second, shadowy groups like Libertas should not be given any further legitimacy.
In my opinion what is needed is an easily read and understood Constitution of Europe which sets out the rights of the citizen and how the Union should work. We can then vote on this document in the same way the citizenry did in 1937. - Yours, etc,
FERGAL SCULLY, Glenbeigh Road, Dublin 7.
Madam, - In the wake of Ireland's democratic decision, some people are saying we must either repeat our referendum or bear the consequences, even extending to banishment from the EU itself. Well Ireland is in a much stronger position than the would-be dictators realise.
If any attempt is made to "punish" Ireland, or to expel us, we should then apply to become the next state of the United States of America. And we should take our fisheries with us. We have the most valuable fisheries in the entire EU, and through them we have given more to the EU than it has ever given us.
America would greet us with wide-open arms, and the very threat to Europe of having the US on the doorstep would soon awaken the bullies who have contempt for our referendum result.
After all, there are already some 40 million Irish living in the States. It would not take much to join them and we would be very welcome. - Yours, etc,
DERMOT C. CLARKE, Wilson Road, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The Yes campaign's analysis of its defeat in the Lisbon Treaty referendum seems to revolve around claims that the No campaign was simply too effective.
It involved simple, colourful messages, they say. It was personality-driven. And it touched on issues that people care passionately about.
To my mind, this is precisely the way a campaign should be run. The No side had talented spin-doctors on their side who knew how to craft an excellent campaign that would actually influence people. They knew how to produce eye-catching messages based on their own interpretation of to the treaty and their own beliefs about Europe.
If our politicians had used some of these basic campaigning tactics, they might actually have pulled off a considerable victory in the referendum. Instead, they stuck to a literal reading of the treaty, failing to connect it to anything of substance that might actually excite the public. They seemed to believe the Yes side was at a disadvantage because the treaty was "dull"; there was nothing "sexy" in it to sell.
This reveals a sad lack of imagination. The EU has been an enormous force in the world for the past 50 years, bringing about an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity in Ireland and elsewhere. It is one of the most exciting political projects that has ever been undertaken. It is a global proponent of human rights, international development, social and environmental improvements and a whole host of other values about which people care passionately.
The Lisbon Treaty contains elements of all these which could have been used to light up the Yes campaign, given a bit of creativity. But rarely were any of them mentioned on campaign posters.
Instead, Yes campaigners seem to have fallen victim to their own preconceptions about the EU being boring and dull. This is all they succeeded in conveying to the Irish public.
As a pro-European, I feel deeply dismayed that the vote was lost because we did not have the right public relations strategy. Perhaps next time round we should entice some of the skilful PR practitioners who dreamt up the No campaign over to the other side. - Yours, etc,
AOIFE BLACK, Palatine Square, Arbour Hill, Dublin 7.
Madam, - Now that the votes have been cast, would someone please explain why, if 27 commissioners are too many for 400 million people, we need about 35 ministers of one variety or another, for our 4 million. - Yours, etc,
TOM McDONALD, The Elm, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
Madam, - I suggest we have a referendum on forgoing our right to a referendum on a constitutional amendment.
So many people voted No because they "didn't understand the Lisbon Treaty". Is it right to expose our country to ridicule in Europe at the behest of these apathetic citizens? - Yours, etc,
BREDA CLARKE, Crannagh Road, Dublin 14.
Madam, - Well done, Irish voters, for striking a great blow at those who have been trying to build greater integration in Europe. Over here in Britain, where many would love to see the end of the EU, there is widespread delight at the result.
This prompts a wonderful idea. Couldn't our two countries which - whatever some opponents of the treaty may say - seem united in their determination to destroy the EU, form a union of their own.
I can even propose a name for it: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. - Yours, etc,
JOHN SOLAN, Rochester, Kent, England.
A chara, - In the aftermath of the Lisbon Treaty referendum, Keith Nolan comments (June 17th) that, after Berlin and Boston, "we are well on the way to Birmingham".
Having just received a free English Premier League fixture poster with my copy of The Irish Times, I would suggest we are already there. - Is mise,
E.F. FANNING, Churchtown, Dublin 14.
Madam, - Fintan O'Toole (Opinion, June 17th) makes the interesting proposal that Sinn Féin be invited to negotiate a better deal with the EU, following its role in the defeat of the Lisbon treaty referendum.
While he argues a reasonable case for that proposition, it would be prudent to consider the negotiating record of that party before entrusting the national fate to their care.
Sinn Féin leaders present themselves as seasoned and skilled negotiators, a reputation which is generally supported rather than challenged by our media and political commentators.
However, an examination of the one major deal they've been involved in negotiating might suggest otherwise. After 30 years of murder and mayhem, what deal did they end up with in Northern Ireland?
(a) Recognition of the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as part of the UK.
(b) The territorial claim dropped from the Irish Constitution.
(c) Rev Ian Paisley as "prime minister" in Stormont.
Could you make it up? Would you send them out to buy a dog, never mind sending them to Brussels to negotiate our future? - Yours, etc,
PETER MOLLOY, Haddington Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The vitriol directed towards those of us who voted No to Lisbon is confirmation yet again that democracy is but a catchphrase and not a principle.
Those who talk up the so-called negative implications of the result are doing Ireland and the EU a disservice: they are helping to create a perception that Ireland is isolated, when in fact it is their very comments which are giving succour to those who would have us isolated.
More people voted No than gave Fianna Fáil their first preferences in last year's general election (862,415 against 858,565). If such a number is not a mandate, then the main Government party, it follows, has no legitimacy.
I voted No fully understanding the implications of what I was doing. I read the sections of the treaty which were of particular concern to me in making my decision: the defence and security policy sections, and the section where there is a single weak reference to climate change (which I wanted to take into account).
I was not prepared to help give a powerful but obscurely accountable trans-national structure a military wing, nor to further entangle this State in that wing. I would like my vote to be respected, this time. - Yours, etc,
MARK DORIS, Townsfield, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary.
Madam, - It is preposterous for Patricia McKenna to reject a suggested protocol excluding Ireland from anything to do with EU military and defence matters on the basis that it would not stop other member-states from forging ahead with such plans if they so wish.
Ms McKenna is out of her depth in seeking to dictate foreign and military policy to Ireland's European neighbours. Is she not satisfied with the damage she has already helped inflict on Ireland without turning her guns on others? - Yours, etc,
KEVIN POWER, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Madam, - I honestly can't see what all the fuss is about. It has long been customary and deemed polite for us Irish to automatically say no to anything offered by a host, and to keep saying no every time the offer is repeated, until eventually a stage is reached when, because of the host's insistent pleas, a refusal is regarded as impolite. This custom has been comically displayed in every Father Ted episode.
We've been in the EU long enough now for the central powers there to realise this important national trait, so they should now know what to do about our Lisbon No vote.
Does anyone know the German, French or Italian for: "Ah, go on, go on"? - Yours, etc,
FRANK HANNON, Cloghroe, Co Cork.
Madam, - Many people seem to have voted against the Lisbon Treaty on the basis that this will preserve our neutrality, keep us safe and spare us from military adventures abroad. But repeating the word neutrality as if it was a mantra that will protect us from any international crisis is pure self-delusion.
When are we going to have a real debate on what our neutrality means, how we can best protect ourselves in an increasingly unstable world, and who is going to foot the bill?
Lisbon or no Lisbon, we should answer these questions for ourselves before someone else does it for us. - Yours, etc,
PADRAIG YEATES, Balkill Road, Howth, Dublin 13.
Madam, - Vincent Browne does not seem to be bothered about the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty (Opinion, June 18th). He thinks we should just "get on" with things such as policy on climate change.
Article 174 of the Treaty gave a legal basis for combating climate change. This was the first time any European treaty explicitly referred to the matter.
Surely it is easier to "get on" with things when there is an agreed legal basis for doing so? - Yours, etc,
ALEX STAVELEY, Norseman Court, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.