Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

The Financial Times columnist Wolfgang Münchau appears to have been unhinged by Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty. "I personally found last week's Irish No vote shocking, not in terms of what it means for the EU, but what it says about Ireland," says Münchau about Ireland. By the way, all those who think the grand project's now gone pear shaped should think again. "Europe's leaders actually have a plan B," Münchau informs us, to our great surprise. And he then adds, grimly, "It is not a pretty plan." Ooooooh!

See, Ireland should get ready for a roughing up because the EU is ready "to play hardball. This is plan B." And is there any way for the Hibernians to avoid getting a hiding? Well, all those thick Paddies who still don't get it, need to get this: "Once 26 countries have ratified, EU countries accounting for more than 99 per cent of the EU's population will have approved the Lisbon treaty. The pressure on Ireland would then become unbearable." This is more like the language of a bully than of someone who writes for a great paper. And since when have journalists started taking up cudgels on behalf of big nations against small ones? By the sound of it, Wolfgang Münchau would make a perfect EU commissar, er, commissioner.

But what he doesn't seem to get is that people are fed up with the entire zero sum game. According to the most demented EU-centric view, Ireland, and the other 26 members, must accept everything that is drafted in Brussels or the complete project will be plunged into crisis. It's always Brussels or bust with this crowd.

And, irrespective of the wishes of national electorates, member states must accept a treaty elevated to the level of irreversible constitutional law, otherwise global warming is going to fry us and, worst of all, the Schleswig-Holstein Question will be reopened. And it will be Ireland's fault!