Libertas.org

"According to the Government's own referendum commission, 80% of Irish people don't know what's in the Lisbon Treaty.

Bertie Ahern's response? He tells them they would be "insane" to vote against it.

In my view, it is insane to vote for a document if you don't know what's in it.

Bertie Ahern has been a great leader of our country, - and as he retires I wish him well, and congratulate him for his wonderful achievements over the last 11 years. However, I am saddened that as he leaves office, he seems to feel that he has no responsibility to the electorate any longer.

He signed this Treaty. He took it upon himself to commit Ireland to its contents. He owes it to the people to explain what's in it, and silly statements like the one he made this morning are not helpful.

Of course, the truth is that Lisbon is a Treaty of the Politicians, for the politicians, by the politicians.

It is unfortunate that as Bertie Ahern prepares to leave the land of Abraham Lincoln as Taoiseach for the last time, he feels the need to call his own people names instead of addressing their concerns. I would prefer him to practice the respect for democracy he spoke so eloquently of on Wednesday".