This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18261922#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ireland votes on EU fiscal treaty | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Irish voters have begun casting their ballots on whether to ratify the European Fiscal Treaty, which sets strict rules on the budget deficits countries are allowed to run up. | |
| Rejecting it would debar Ireland from emergency EU funding when its current bailout package expires in 2013. | Rejecting it would debar Ireland from emergency EU funding when its current bailout package expires in 2013. |
| Ireland is the only one of 25 nations which is putting the fiscal pact to a national vote. | Ireland is the only one of 25 nations which is putting the fiscal pact to a national vote. |
| Because of the treaty's complexity, a high turn-out is not expected. | Because of the treaty's complexity, a high turn-out is not expected. |
| The BBC's Mark Simpson, in Dublin, says the "Yes" camp fears people, angry with continuing austerity measures, will vote against the treaty to punish the government. | |
| Complicated | Complicated |
| The pact, signed by all EU members except the Czech Republic and the UK, allows EU member states to co-ordinate their budget policies and impose penalties on rule-breakers. | The pact, signed by all EU members except the Czech Republic and the UK, allows EU member states to co-ordinate their budget policies and impose penalties on rule-breakers. |
| Signed in February, it commits all ratifying members to achieve budget deficits of less than 0.5% of economic output. | Signed in February, it commits all ratifying members to achieve budget deficits of less than 0.5% of economic output. |
| Last year, Ireland's deficit reached 13.1%. | Last year, Ireland's deficit reached 13.1%. |
| The country's 3.1m voters have twice rejected European Union treaties - in referendums in 2001 and 2008 - though both votes were then overturned in subsequent polls. | The country's 3.1m voters have twice rejected European Union treaties - in referendums in 2001 and 2008 - though both votes were then overturned in subsequent polls. |
| Those against the treaty argue that austerity is not working and suggest that the country should instead default on debts at five nationalised banks. | Those against the treaty argue that austerity is not working and suggest that the country should instead default on debts at five nationalised banks. |
| In a nationwide television address before campaigning ended, the Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, urged people to vote in favour of the treaty. | In a nationwide television address before campaigning ended, the Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, urged people to vote in favour of the treaty. |
| "I ask you to make a further contribution by coming out to vote 'Yes' on Thursday. Yes to stability. Yes to investment. Yes to recovery. Yes to a working Ireland," he said. | |
| Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, who is campaigning against the treaty, told voters not to be fooled. | Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, who is campaigning against the treaty, told voters not to be fooled. |
| "Be wise. Join with the millions across Europe who are demanding an end to austerity. On Thursday, vote 'No'." | |
| The party's stance on the treaty has seen its support surge in recent weeks, making it the second-most popular party in the Republic of Ireland for the first time. | The party's stance on the treaty has seen its support surge in recent weeks, making it the second-most popular party in the Republic of Ireland for the first time. |
| Results are not expected until late on Friday. | Results are not expected until late on Friday. |