Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1003/eulisbon1.html

(1.46pm) Minister for Health Mary Harney said the scale of the Yes vote is remarkable. She said the vote will play a part in the economic recovery.

(1.43pm) Voters in Dublin West have voted Yes by 68.5% to 31.5%.

(1.40pm) Two more Yes votes in Cavan-Monaghan (62:38) and Kerry North (64:36). Both voted No in 2008.

(1.37pm) European Commission President José Manuel Barroso says the result 'shows the value of European solidarity'.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who called for a No vote, compared the referendum to a corrupt election in Zimbabwe or Afghanistan.

(1.35pm) With nine constituencies in, the overall picture is 64.8% Yes and 35.2% No.

(1.34pm) Voters in Sligo-North Leitrim have approved the treaty by 64.45% to No 35.55%.

(1.33pm) Click here for details on the results as they emerge.

(1.32pm) Cork South Central has voted in favour of the treaty by 66.85% to 33.15%.

(1.30pm) Dublin Mid-West has voted Yes by 61.49% to 38.51%.

(1.29pm) Check our latest video clips here

(1.27pm) There has been a strong Yes vote in Waterford.

A total of 68.53% (30,744) voted Yes and 31.47% (14,116) voted No. There was a 22.85% swing to the Yes side.

Minister Martin Cullen said he was delighted with what was a very good result for the country and for Europe.

(1.23pm) Donegal South West has voted No.

The margin of victory was just 171 votes. 50.27% (15,794) voted against the treaty and 49.73% (15,623) voted in favour.

(1.20pm) Tipperary North has followed its neighbour in approving the treaty.

A total of 70.38% (25,768) voted Yes and 29.62% (10,846) voted No. It represented a swing of 20.58%. Turnout was 52%.

(1.17pm) IBEC Director General Danny McCoy said: 'The vote will lead to an EU that is better able to face the challenges ahead and reaffirms Ireland's long-standing, positive and constructive role in Europe. Today's decision is good for Ireland and good for Europe.'

(1.15pm) Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said no-one in the Yes camp had contemplated such a large margin.

(1.13pm) In Donegal South West there could be as little as 200 votes between the No and the Yes sides.

(1.10pm) Donegal North East has rejected the Lisbon Treaty. 51.46% (15,005) voted No and 48.54% (14,156) voted Yes. There was a swing to the Yes side of 13.24%.

(1.03pm) Click here for details on the results as they emerge.

(1.01pm) Kildare North has recorded a Yes vote. A total of 76.19% (32,012) voted Yes and 23.81% (10,002) voted No.

The constituency voted Yes in 2008, but the margin increased by 21.57%.

(12:59pm) Campaign Director of Ireland for Europe Pat Cox said: 'This was a mature vote in which the Irish people rejected those voices telling them to make the referendum a verdict on the government and on national policies.'

Mr Cox was President of the European Parliament from 2002-2004.

(12.55pm) Dublin Central seems to have swung to a 61:39 Yes vote this year.

(12.53pm) The treaty looks set to be carried in Mayo, with tallies indicating a 62:38 vote for Yes, which is a reversal of 2008.

(12.45pm) Tipperary South is the first result in. 68.42% (22,712) voted Yes, while 31.58% (10,483) voted No. The change since 2008 is 21.63%. There were 184 spoiled votes.

(12.43pm) Only ten of the 43 constituencies voted in favour of Lisbon in 2008. However, this time there will be a majority in nearly every constituency.

(12.37pm) Donegal TD Niall Blaney has said the strong No vote in Donegal North East was disappointing, although there had been a significant shift to the Yes side.

(12.33pm) More good news for Taoiseach Brian Cowen is that the Yes vote has increased 16% in Laois-Offaly this year.

The Yes vote in Offaly, Mr Cowen's county, is 75.6%. The Yes vote in Laois is 66.87%.

(12.29pm) Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said: 'It is an important victory for Ireland and for all of Europe.'

Mr Bildt, whose country holds the EU presidency, said that it was just a matter of time until the union can 'finally can push the button for the better European cooperation that the Lisbon Treaty will give us'.

(12.27pm) Tallies indicate a 60:40 Yes vote in both Galway constituencies. All boxes have been opened.

(12.24pm) In Cork South West, all 140 boxes are open and a formal count is under way. Tallies indicate a 60:40 Yes vote.

(12.22pm) Socialist MEP Joe Higgins has said the Finance Minister is already rowing back on the promise that a Yes vote would mean jobs and economic recovery.

(12.18pm) Anti-Lisbon campaigner Richard Boyd Barrett said: 'I don't think it means a surge of support for the Government. I think the Government have a lot to live up to suggesting passing Lisbon would deliver jobs and economic recovery.'

(12.16pm) Several voters were hoping for divine intervention, as another two miraculous medals were found wrapped inside two ballot papers marked Yes from Ballyfin in Co Laois.

(12.12pm) In Louth, the constituency of Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, the treaty is expected to be carried by 58:42. However, there was a strong No vote in urban, working class areas.

(12.10pm) RTÉ's Europe Editor Sean Whelan has said there will be an audible sigh of relief in Brussels, but there is a sense of anti-climax at Dublin Castle as the mass ranks of the media had expected a closer race.

(12.06pm) For more detailed information on tallies click here

(12.03pm) Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore welcomed the 'sensible decision' of the Irish public.

(12pm) Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said: 'I would still be very cautious at this stage. It's very close to call. A lot more people changed their minds this time round. There was greater clarity and we had a very good Yes campaign here in Donegal South West.'

(11.58am) Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said there was a 'national cohesion behind the Yes vote'.

He added: 'The Government is not engaged in any celebratory parties. We are in a very difficult place (economically) and that's precisely why people have voted Yes.'

(11.57am) Declan Ganley told Marian Finucane that Dick Roche had played a blinder in the campaign because he had stayed out of the public eye.

Mr Roche responded by saying that if RTÉ got out of Dublin 4, it would have found him out and about around the country.

(11.55am) David McCullagh reports that only Donegal North East looks like voting No. Turnout was 50%, but a official result is not expected until 2.30pm.

(11.52am) A miraculous medal and a driving licence turned up in boxes in Meath West, where early predictions are that a Yes vote will be carried.

(11.47am) Turnout was up 5% on last time in Limerick East. There is still a high No vote in working class areas of the city, where the No vote was as high as 70%.

(11.45am) Tallies indicate a strong Yes vote in South Roscommon, which is the home land of Minister Michael Finneran. Some boxes were as high as 90% Yes.

(11.43am) Former Danish MEP Jens Peter Bonde, who had campaigned for a No Vote, said: 'Friday 2 October 2009 will be seen as a sad day in European history.'

(11.41am) For more detailed information on tallies click here

(11.40am) Patricia McKenna of the People's Movement said: 'Today's result was inevitable. People voted not for the Lisbon Treaty but for economic recovery, jobs and EU membership.'

(11.38am) In Dublin North Central, tallys indicate that it will be 60:40 Yes, as opposed to 60:40 No last time.

(11.34am) Sinn Féin's Vice President Mary Lou McDonald told Marian Finucane that Fine Gael and Labour had helped to secure the Taoiseach in office for another three years.

(11.29am) All boxes are opened in Kerry North and tallies are indicating a 60:40 margin in favour of the Yes side. Turnout was 50%.

Sinn Féin TD for North Kerry Martin Ferris said the campaign run by Yes side put fear into voters and had a huge effect.

(11.27am) Declan Ganley has told Bryan Dobson that he will take time to reflect upon his political future.

He said he received a text message this morning from a Fine Gael 'operative' telling him to 'go quietly'.

(11.25am) Tallies from Dublin South West indicate a clear Yes vote with 60% of boxes open. The constituency had the highest No vote in 2008.

(11.20am) Declan Ganley said the country had 'made a mistake', but he paid tribute to the Taoiseach's 'excellent' campaign, which he said had made 'vassals' of the Opposition.

(11.17am) Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche said: 'I am confident it will be carried by close to two-to-one nationally. It is overwhelming.'

(11.14am) In Donegal North East, tallies suggest a big swing to the Yes side. The No vote was 64.7% in the first referendum.

(11.08am) Click on the RTÉ player on the top of this page for the first of RTÉ News' three Lisbon Specials.

(11.05am) Libertas leader Declan Ganley has said the result marks a 'very convincing win' for the Yes camp. He added: '

(10.58am) Early tallies in Dublin South West are indicating a Yes vote. The constituency had the highest No vote in 2008 with 65.1% opposing the treaty.

(10.52am) Fine Gael's Lucinda Creighton said there was a comfort in voting No in 2008 because of the fear created by anti-Lisbon campaigners.

(10.48am) The minister also found the time to praise Sean O'Rourke for his award for Best News Broadcaster at PPI Radio awards.

(10.45am) Micheál Martin has said the 'information deficit and knowledge gap' was a key reason Ireland voted No in 2008. However, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin rejected that.

(10.36am) Sinn Fein's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said there was no doubt that a lot of fear had been engendered as to the consequences of voting No.

(10.33am) RTÉ's David McCullagh said a No vote would have been 'absolutely catastrophic for the Government'.

(10.30am) Libertas leader Declan Ganley will make a statement at the RDS count centre at 11am.

(10.25) Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins said that if the treaty is passed it will make it 1-1 and he joked that 'there should be a replay'.

(10.23am) Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said it looks like it will be a Yes vote and that this will be good for Ireland.

He said: 'I am delighted for the country. It looks like a convincing win for the 'Yes' side on this occasion.'

(10.20am) The tradition of spoiling votes is still strong, with one voter in Tipperary South asking 'what part of no do you not understand?'

(10.18am) Anti-Lisbon campaigner Richard Greene of Cóir has conceded that if tallies from around the country are accurate the treaty will be carried.

(10.15am) 90% of boxes have been opened in Dublin South. It had a Yes vote of 62.9% last time out.

(10.10am) In Dún Laoghaire, which had the highest Yes vote in 2008, 17% of boxes have been opened.

(10am) There are early tallies in for 22 of the 43 constituencies, but as Sean O'Rourke has said on RTÉ Radio One 'tallies are incomplete and unscientific'.

(9.57am) 20% of boxes have been opened in the key constituencies of Donegal South West and Donegal North East.

(9.52am) RTÉ's Political Correspondent David McCullagh is reporting that early indications from count centres around the country suggest that the Lisbon Treaty will be carried.

(9.50am) Up to 30% of the boxes have been opened in Clare and a result is expected there at 1pm. 5% of boxes have been opened in Dublin North East and 3% in Dublin North West.

(9.45am) 3% of boxes have been opened in Waterford. A result is expected at 12.30pm.

(9.35am) An early tally received from Carlow-Kilkenny is indicating a strong Yes vote. 15% of boxes have been opened.

(9am) The count is on. Remember, RTÉ Radio coverage begins at 10am. RTÉ News's first Lisbon Special starts at 11am.

(8.40am) Just 20 minutes to go until the counting of votes gets under way.

(8.30am) When polling closed last night the indications were that the turnout was slightly up on the first Lisbon referendum.

Fine Gael says an exit poll that it carried out shows there has been strong support for the Lisbon Treaty this time out.

Mr Bruton said: 'This is a huge relief. Now the way is clear to get on with the real work of restoring the lost dynamism of the shared economy of Europe and Ireland.'

(3.40pm) Dublin South Central (57.97%), Cork East (66.10%) and Wicklow (70.75%) all return Yes votes.

(3.38pm) RTÉ's David McCullagh says that with just five constituencies left to declare, the passing of the treaty is beyond doubt, even if every voter in all five remaining constituencies voted No.

(3.37pm) Patricia McKenna said: 'Fears and insecurities of voters were skilfully tapped into by an illegally over-funded Yes campaign.'

(3.35pm) The Cork South West (67.17%) and Cork North West (69.53%) constituencies vote Yes.

(3.28pm) Two more Yes votes in the Taoiseach's home patch of Laois-Offaly (73.17%) and Roscommon-South Leitrim (65.97%).

(3.25pm) Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has hailed the result and said EU hopefuls in the western Balkans would also benefit from it.

Mr Jeremic said the treaty 'has opened doors to Europe that will have space for all European nations, including those from the western Balkans.'

He added: 'I believe that we all have reason to be happy for the success of the Irish referendum and to get down to fulfilling all criteria for EU membership with even more energy.'

(3.19pm) José Manuel Barroso, who was a wearing a green tie for the occasion, told RTÉ's Europe Correspondent Tony Connelly that he hopes the treaty can be fully ratified in the near future.

(3.17pm) British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: 'I welcome the decision of the Irish people on the Lisbon Treaty.

'The treaty is good for the UK and good for Europe. We can now work together to focus on the issues that matter most to Europeans: a sustained economic recovery, security, tackling global poverty, and action on climate change.'

(3.15pm) Czech President Vaclav Klaus has declined to say if he will sign the Lisbon Treaty after a constitutional court review.

(3.10pm) The American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland and Women for Europe have both welcomed the result.

(3.07pm) Two more Yes votes on opposite sides of the country in Dublin North East (63.46%) and Galway West (66.34%).

(3pm) 69.72% of voters in Kildare North have voted in favour of the treaty.

(2.58pm) With 29 of 43 counts completed, the Yes vote is at 67.1%.

(2.52pm) There has been a 23.41% swing in Mayo as 61.71% of the constituency voted Yes.

That Yes figure is identical to the No figure in 2008.

(2.50pm) Meath East votes in favour by 72.31% to 27.69%.

(2.47pm) Click here for details on the results as they emerge.

(2.43pm) The people of Wexford have voted in favour by 65.20% to 34.80%.

(2.41pm) Following this result, it is now up to the Czech Republic and Poland to officially ratify the Lisbon Treaty.

(2.40pm) As the Taoiseach speaks at Government Buildings, two more Yes votes emerge in Louth and Dublin Central.

(2.37pm) Taoiseach Brian Cowen has formally declared victory for the Yes side in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Mr Cowen said the vote was a 'declaration of intent to remain at the heart of Europe'. He added that it would bring about 'a stronger and fairer Ireland and Europe'.

(2.35pm) Dublin North West votes Yes by 55.04% to 44.96%. Galway East also votes in favour of the treaty by 68.11% to 31.89%.

(2.32pm) Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said: 'Nationally we are delighted. I just spoke to the Taoiseach and we are very pleased it's going to be won.'

(2.31pm) The result for Limerick East shows a Yes vote of 67.41%.

(2.28pm) Dublin North votes Yes by 72.68% to No 27.32%, as does Dublin South West by a tighter margin of 58.91% to 41.09%.

Dublin South West had the highest No vote in 2008.

(2.23pm) Meath West votes Yes by 64.88% to 35.12% and Limerick West does likewise by 69.32% to 30.68%.

(2.18pm) Dublin South East has followed other constituencies in the capital by voting Yes by 78.67% to 21.33%.

(2.16pm) Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has said there would have been devastating consequences for the Government had there been a defeat a second time.

(2.12pm) Two more strong Yes votes in Dún Laoghaire and Kerry South.

The margin in Dún Laoghaire was 81.17% to 18.83%, while in Kerry South it was 63.58% to 36.42%.

Fianna Fáil TD Kerry North Tom McEllstrim said there was a big swing from the No side to the Yes side because of the economic difficulty that Ireland found itself in.

(2.10pm) There has been a resounding Yes in Dublin South, with 81.67% voting in favour and only 18.33% against.

(2.07pm) RTÉ's Southern Editor has said today could be renamed 'Swing Saturday'.

(2.05pm) Clare has voted Yes by 72.32% to 27.68%.

(1.59pm) The joy of being chosen as the Best News Broadcaster is starting to get to Sean O'Rourke, as he has called himself Rachael English twice today.

(1.58pm) IFA President Padraig Walshe has welcomed the Yes vote and thanked farm families for turning out in large numbers to contribute to the result.

(1.57pm) Click here for details on the results as they emerge.

(1.54pm) The prime minister of Sweden, holder of the EU presidency, said he would meet the Czech Prime Minister and European Commission President on Wednesday to discuss the way forward on the treaty.

Fredrik Reinfeldt said: 'Today is a good day for Europe. It has been a long journey. Now the presidency will be active to reach all the way.'

(1.52pm) Cork North Central has voted for the treaty by 55.81% to 44.19%.

The constituency voted No in 2008 and there was a swing to the Yes side of 20.25%.

Results so far show a clear swing to the "Yes" camp

Irish voters have strongly endorsed the Lisbon Treaty, which is aimed at streamlining decision-making in the 27-member European Union.

Official results showed 67% of the electorate voted "Yes". Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen hailed a "clear and resounding" endorsement.

The EU Commission called it a "vote of confidence" in the EU. Nearly all the EU states have ratified Lisbon.

It came 16 months after the first Irish vote, which rejected the Treaty.

The scale of the expected victory is important to Brussels Gavin Hewitt BBC Europe Editor Read more in Hewitt on Europe

It cannot take effect unless all member states ratify it. The only other countries yet to ratify Lisbon are the Czech Republic and Poland.

But the parliaments of both countries have approved the treaty.

"The Irish people have spoken with a clear and resounding voice," Mr Cowen said in a brief statement to reporters. "It is a good day for Ireland and a good day for Europe."

"The Irish people showed an Ireland embracing her future with Europe," he said.

LISBON TREATY Creates new post of EU president (President of European Council) New post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs More decisions by majority vote, rather than unanimity Ratified by all member states except Czech Republic, Ireland and Poland Only Ireland held a referendum on it Took a decade of negotiations Was intended to take effect in January 2009 Send us your comments If Irish vote 'Yes' - what next? In quotes: Reactions to vote

Ireland was the only EU member state to hold a referendum on Lisbon, though there have been calls for referendums in several countries.

The leader of the anti-Lisbon lobby group Libertas, Declan Ganley, said the result marked a "very convincing win" for the "Yes" camp.

Counting started at centres across the country at 0900 (0800 GMT) and results are being relayed to the national count centre in Dublin Castle.

EU hails 'victory'

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, called the vote "an important victory for Ireland and for all of Europe".

He said it was just a matter of time until the EU "finally can push the button for the better European co-operation that the Lisbon Treaty will give us".

The European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, praised the Irish "vote of confidence" in the EU, which he said showed a "desire to be a wholehearted member".

The Czech Republic's Eurosceptic President, Vaclav Klaus, said he would not sign the treaty until his country's Constitutional Court had pronounced on its validity.

Irish opinion is thought to have swung behind the "Yes" vote this time because of the severity of the economic downturn, as well as the legal "guarantees" on Irish sovereignty that the EU pledged after the first referendum.

The legally binding "guarantees" state that Lisbon will not affect key areas of Irish sovereignty, such as taxation, military neutrality and family matters such as abortion - significant issues in last year's campaign in Ireland. But they have not yet been attached to the treaty.

The treaty is intended to make EU institutions better suited to the enlarged bloc of 27.

Opponents see Lisbon as part of a federalist agenda that threatens national sovereignty.

In last year's vote, 46.6% of Irish voted "Yes" and 53.4% "No", and the rejection of the treaty plunged the EU into political gridlock.

The Irish anti-Lisbon group Coir said on Saturday: "We are extremely disappointed that the voice of the people was not heard the first time around."

Three million people were eligible to vote in the referendum. Turnout was higher than 50% when polling stations closed at 2200 on Friday.

All of the republic's major parties campaigned for a "Yes" vote except the nationalist Sinn Fein. The party believes rejecting the treaty would mean a more democratic EU.

Irish voters rejected the treaty in a referendum 18 months ago

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has welcomed the "Yes" vote on the EU's Lisbon Treaty in the Republic of Ireland referendum.

Mr Brown said the treaty was "good for the UK and good for Europe".

David Cameron will now face pressure to say if a Tory government would hold a referendum if the treaty is in force.

The Irish electorate produced a 67.1% "Yes" vote, leaving only Poland and the Czech Republic to sign the treaty aimed at streamlining EU institutions.

In a statement, Mr Brown said: "I welcome the decision of the Irish people on the Lisbon Treaty.

"The treaty is good for the UK and good for Europe. We can now work together to focus on the issues that matter most to Europeans - a sustained economic recovery, security, tackling global poverty, and action on climate change."

'Potential divisions'

The Conservative leader has previously said a Tory government would call a referendum if the treaty has not been ratified by all 27 EU countries.

Poland is expected to sign within days, while there is a legal challenge against the treaty in the Czech Republic.

Both countries' parliaments have approved the treaty.

A poll of 2,205 Conservative Party members, for the Independent newspaper, found more than eight out of 10 wanted a referendum even if Lisbon is ratified.

The Conservativehome.com survey found 55% would want a referendum to "renegotiate EU position", while 29% would want Lisbon declared illegitimate and a referendum on opting out.

"The findings suggest that the damaging divisions on Europe which destabilised the last Tory government could resurface at the party's annual conference in Manchester," the newspaper suggests.

Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1004/eulisbonfuture.html