POLITICAL REACTION:FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has expressed disappointment at the defeat of the referendum, saying the Irish people have made a clear-cut decision on the matter.
Speaking in Dublin Castle, Mr Kenny said that he was unsure of the consequences of the vote and it was now up to the Government to discuss the matter with the other European states at a summit later this month.
However, he did suggest that the Lisbon Treaty could be revisited in some manner. "We move on from here and see if the process can be opened up again," he said.
When asked if the Yes campaign had failed to get the message out, Mr Kenny said that yesterday was not the day to start "laying blame".
"I did make the point that the vacuum that was opening up could certainly lead to misinformation being out there. As I say, this is not a day for me to lay recriminations anywhere," he said.
In contrast, Labour leader Éamon Gilmore said he strongly believed that the treaty was dead and could not be revisited.
"It required 27 member states to ratify it and the Irish people have now declared that they do not want it ratified. I do not think there is any question of the treaty being put a second time to the people."
He said that unlike Nice I in 2001, where there was a low turnout, there was a good turnout. "The decision that has been made by the people has to be respected by everybody."
Green Party leader John Gormley also said he was disappointed with the outcome and he blamed the No side for resorting to "exaggeration and misinformation". He argued that most of the constituencies with strong Green public representation had sided with the Government.
On the No side, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the Taoiseach - as a democrat - would accept the will of the people and acknowledge the treaty was now finished.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin Castle, Mr Adams said the consensus was with the No vote and that Mr Cowen now needed to negotiate with other European leaders.
"It was very much David and Goliath, in this case Goliath lost again," said Mr Adams.
"It is people saying that they want a social Europe . . . where there is maximum democratic power, maximum representation, [and where] voters' rights are respected and Irish neutrality is protected," he said.
Declan Ganley, founder of Libertas, said there was now a very clear mandate for Taoiseach Brian Cowen to go to Europe and look for a better deal.
"This is a very mature decision that has been expressed by the Irish people, but we need more democracy to be at the core of it," he said.
Former Green MEP Patricia McKenna of the People's Movement said she had believed the Yes side would prevail in the days before the vote and was delighted her prediction was wrong.
"There is a major disconnect between the political parties and the electorate. It has been a great day for people power and citizen power," she said.
Former Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said workers should now begin a fightback against the "neoliberal agenda" being foisted on them by Europe.
He said the result was a "long-awaited rebuke" against the likes of Ibec that was leading the race to the bottom.
Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott said the result was a good day for Europe and called on the Government to seek a better deal.
"Let's make the EU more democratic, transparent and accountable to its people, let's ensure that all citizens be taken into account when the EU makes its decisions," she said.
