When European leaders talk about respecting the Irish No on the Lisbon treaty, what they really mean is putting the best face on it until the Irish can be induced to change their minds.

On defence, they will be tempted to point out the absurdity of the fears that anything in the treaty could “compromise Irish neutrality” and the fatuity of the “Euro-army” bogey. But Europe’s leaders would do better to let this go, and to help the Irish on with their coats.