Irish voters have agreed to back the European Union's fiscal pact in a referendum, final results show.

About 60 per cent of those who voted said "yes", with turnout at about 50 per cent.

There are 17 countries in the eurozone, but only 12 of them are required to ratify the treaty in order for it to become law. The treaty makes deficit reduction a priority for the budgets of all signatories, but critics say that it makes it illegal for member states to follow pro-growth policies, by necessitating a pro-austerity approach.

Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reports from Dublin, Ireland.