Cork South Central and North Central have backed the ratification of the Fiscal Treaty, with a Yes result looking certain at this stage.

Cork South Central returned a Yes vote of 62.17 percent against a No vote of 37.83 per cent. Turnout in the constituency, in which all sitting TDs backed a Yes vote, was recorded at 53.46 per cent.

Cork North Central, which had looked like it was going to vote No in early, and even final tallies, recorded a Yes vote on a margin of four per cent. The Yes side, 52 per cent, received a final boost from rural boxes in the constituency, while the more urban No vote polled at 48 per cent. 

Cork East showed a Yes vote of 60 per cent with the No side indicating 39.48 per cent. Cork South West showed a turnout of 51.55 and a Yes vote of 66.27 per cent. The No vote was registered at 33.73 per cent. Cork North-West had a high Yes vote of 65.59 per cent with a No vote of 34.41 per cent.

While the official announcement is not expected from Dublin Castle for a number of hours, leading No campaigners including Socialist Joe Higgins, Declan Ganley and Richard Boyd-Barrett have already conceded the referendum. 

“We’re delighted with the result that secures Ireland’s place at the European table,” said Cork Business Association (CBA) Chief Executive, Donal Healy. 

“I did find the No campaign quite aggressive. They had no answer on funding and people saw through them very quickly. I urged throughout the campaign, and I still urge strength in unity.”

Mr Healy also stressed the ratification will strengthen Ireland’s negotiating hand in Europe, contrary to what the No campaign had suggested. 

“We now don’t have to go to the open market to borrow money if we have to secure a second bailout, which was a worry for people. We are not in normal times, we are in abnormal times. We’re a small island on the periphery of Europe. This vote secures a strong voice at the European table.”

The final official announcement from Dublin Castle confirmed a Yes vote of 955,091, with the No vote registering 629,088 – a majority of 326,003. The total valid poll was 1,584,179 with invalid votes numbering 7,206.