The Irish will today decide the future of the EU when they go to the polls to decide whether to ratify the Lisbon treaty.
For the second time in almost 18 months, around three million Irish citizens will be asked to vote on the proposed legislation.
A majority again vote againstwould be a huge setback to long-running plans for EU reform.
Bookmakers yesterday shortened the odds on the Irish voting in favour of the 2006 treaty, a blueprint for reforming how the 27-nation bloc takes decisions and presents itself to the wider world.
Polls opened at 7am and do not close until 10pm, and the result will be declared in Dublin Castle tomorrow afternoon.
Ireland is the only EU member that requires the treaty to win majority approval from voters.
The Irish rejected it in a referendum last June, but are voting again after EU leaders reaffirmed the country would retain its military neutrality, control over tax policies and right to keep abortion outlawed.
The taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has called on the electorate to back the charter.
"The outcome will determine the future direction of our country ... I am urging people to go out and vote and to think clearly before making this vital decision," he said.
"I am appealing to every person in this country who believes that Ireland and Europe are better together to help achieve a yes vote."
Cowen has ruled out a third referendum if the Irish vote against the treaty again.
Pro-treaty groups say Lisbon will streamline EU decision-making, but campaigners for a vote against claim nothing in the treaty has changed and say it remains a bad deal for Europe and Ireland.
Residents of offshore islands in Donegal, Galway and Clare have already cast their votes, with polls there having opened on Tuesday and Wednesday.
For the second time in almost 18 months, around three million Irish citizens will be asked to vote on the proposed legislation.
A majority again vote againstwould be a huge setback to long-running plans for EU reform.
Bookmakers yesterday shortened the odds on the Irish voting in favour of the 2006 treaty, a blueprint for reforming how the 27-nation bloc takes decisions and presents itself to the wider world.
Polls opened at 7am and do not close until 10pm, and the result will be declared in Dublin Castle tomorrow afternoon.
Ireland is the only EU member that requires the treaty to win majority approval from voters.
The Irish rejected it in a referendum last June, but are voting again after EU leaders reaffirmed the country would retain its military neutrality, control over tax policies and right to keep abortion outlawed.
The taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has called on the electorate to back the charter.
"The outcome will determine the future direction of our country ... I am urging people to go out and vote and to think clearly before making this vital decision," he said.
"I am appealing to every person in this country who believes that Ireland and Europe are better together to help achieve a yes vote."
Cowen has ruled out a third referendum if the Irish vote against the treaty again.
Pro-treaty groups say Lisbon will streamline EU decision-making, but campaigners for a vote against claim nothing in the treaty has changed and say it remains a bad deal for Europe and Ireland.
Residents of offshore islands in Donegal, Galway and Clare have already cast their votes, with polls there having opened on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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