Early Irish Returns Show Win for EU Treaty

On the second try, Ireland has delivered "a convincing win" for the European Union's reform treaty, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said today, with the "yes" vote running about 60%  nationwide in early returns. "I'm absolutely delighted for the country. It looks like a convincing win on this occasion," he said. "It's good for Ireland, because I do passionately believe our future is in the European Union and there was no real reason to vote no."

Official results come later Saturday. Ireland's June 2008 rejection of the Lisbon Treaty threatened to derail the EU's painstakingly negotiated plans to modernize its institutions, but the Irish agreed to stage a second vote. (More Lisbon Treaty stories.)