Sir, - I am deeply embarrassed to be Irish after the rejection by the Irish people of the Nice Treaty. This result is indicative of a profound greed among Irish people with regard to external affairs.
It is clear that the Celtic Tiger has become extremely greedy and self-centred. When one considers that the birth of that tiger was due to our membership of the EU, it is disgraceful at this stage that we have chosen not to extend the same opportunities and benefits to our neighbours in Europe.
I was astonished at the number of people who voted `No' because they claimed that they knew nothing about it. If these people did not know what it entailed, then they should not have voted at all.
I sincerely hope that when we next return to this issue, we can have a much longer and informed and sensible debate, and less of the vociferous nonsense and scare-mongering from the Eurosceptics in our society. - Yours, etc.,
Owen G. O'Shea, Glen Ellen, Milltown, Co Kerry.