There's life after Lisbon
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In the wake of last Thursday's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, at the very least the skies over Europe ought to have taken on a leaden aspect.
They did not. In fact, the sun has even been reported to be still shining over Brussels. In other words, life goes on. The Irish people were given a choice. They voted 'No'. The key word here is choice. They could not, after all, have been ordered to vote 'Yes'. It now behoves all to knuckle down and deal with the fallout.
The situation demands a lot more than a rehashing of phrases such as there are 'no quick fixes' or the Government's refrain that there is no plan B.
There must always be a plan B -- it usually comes with a swallowing of pride and a humiliation ritual. But the flagellation must end. The Taoiseach will meet the other EU leaders later in the week with the expectation that he will be dispatched to sit on the bold step. Ireland is collectively in bad odour for its brazen exercise in democracy. Some politicians in France and Germany have vented their understandable frustration that a country given so much, should be prepared to concede so little in return.
While the chagrin is to be expected, if ever there was a time for cool heads and calm resolve then that time is now. If everything else is unclear one thing at least is not, and that is the gulf that exists between nations, their governments, and the EU itself.
Unless this gap is bridged, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for 27 countries comprising 500 million people to pull together.
The emollient tone taken by Gordon Brown and David Miliband is welcome. It is no time for bullying or hubris.
The 'No' side was able to manipulate fears and accentuate the negatives because the positives were not presented with similar rigour. If recurring issues like defence, taxation and the loss of a commissioner can be addressed, then there is no reason why broad support cannot be achieved.
The key to consensus is consultation. Ireland, after all, is very much for Europe, but is uneasy at being ordered about by faceless bureaucrats. This is something that will strike a chord across all 27 states.
If this message is taken on board, the rejection of Lisbon for now will be seen as a breakthrough, rather than a breakdown.
