President Michael D. Higgins has, in effect scuppered the Irish government's hope of bypassing a referendum on the so-called 'Austerity Treay' -an EU fiscal compact.
The Irish Times is reporting cabinet level "alarm" over remarks last week by President Higgins that he is already considering whether "there is an issue of constitutional significance raised” were a referendum not to be held.
Government ministers bemoan the fact that Higgins is speculating like this in advance of a decision by the Irish Attorney General about whether a referendem is legally required. It's a niggling objection: Higgins is fully entitled to ponder his options were the AG to give the government an excuse to bypass a referendum.
But the real source of the government's discomfort is that the comments by Pres. Higgins just fired a warning shot across their bows. Given the president's well known opinion that EU structures often brush aside the will of the voting public, it's now clear he will act to scrutinize any government Bill establishing the 'Austerity Teaty.'
A clear majority --72% of respondents-- wanted a referendum in a recent poll by SBPost REDC. That's the voice of the people. It's a voice Higgins hears - even if bankers, EU bureaucrats and governments do not.
The Irish government dreads being forced by it's own Supreme Court to hold a referendum. Higgins has unleashed the spectre of that very outcome and has likely triggered a referendum either way - the easy way or the hard way.
The next question is: if turkeys had such a vote - would they vote for Christmas?
The Irish government's scared to find out.
But it now looks increasingly likely that the scary stuff is going to happen to them anyway.
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