The number of Irish people planning to vote against the European Union’s reform treaty in Thursday’s referendum has unexpectedly surged, causing alarm among EU policymakers.

EU’s future hangs on the Irish weather

Quentin Peel on a tight contest in Ireland’s June 12 vote on the Lisbon Treaty

An Irish “no” could doom the Lisbon treaty because it must be ratified by all 27 EU member states. Ireland is the only EU member country to ratify by referendum, rather than a process of parliamentary assent.