*IRELAND TO HOLD VOTE ON EU FISCAL COMPACT, KENNY SAYS
Market seems not to like this… though wasn’t referendum or renegotiation risk always inherent in the treaty? (Cf. Monsieur Hollande.)
In terms of the Irish political set-up… Fianna Fáil will join Fine Gael in supporting a yes vote. Also worth noting that Sinn Fein — a solid no, and which threatened a court challenge if a referendum wasn’t held — got 25 per cent in one recent poll, though.
Also… the Treaty text states that ratification by twelve states is needed for it to enter into force, suggesting an Irish no is not a legal deal-breaker to the whole treaty. (The lucky dozen states would apply the provisions among themselves.) As a political flash-point though, it’ll be worth watching.