Euroskeptics have long complained about the European Union’s “bureaucratic deficit,” EU institutions’ insularity from voters in the member states. It’s bad enough that there is a name for this, but it’s not just a matter of perception.

Eurocrats have every incentive to insulate themselves from the wishes of member country voters. Irish voters have voted against the proposed EU Lisbon treaty, a “streamlined” version of the moribund EU constitution treaty, which went down to defeat in France and the Netherlands. Don’t expect to see too many more proposals to expand the EU’s reach put up to a vote. For now, however, the Irish deserve a toast, with a pint of Guinness.