Lisbon result analysis due in September

AN ANALYSIS of the Lisbon Treaty referendum result is expected to be available in September, the Taoiseach has told the Dáil.

Brian Cowen said: "The Department of Foreign Affairs is undertaking work on this matter and the information will probably be collated and available in September."

He added: "We need to apply our minds to what forum we can use to conduct dialogue on its implications and collectively assess the means by which we could articulate the issues."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny raised the issue because he said it required "a long lead-in time".

While the results would be ready in September, Mr Cowen said that, "in the meantime, work will take place at official and political levels". He noted French president Nicolas Sarkozy's visit next week, and said the Government would work with the European Commission "to see, based on our preliminary analysis, to what extent we can move matters forward". It was "a difficult situation", which would "probably require further discussion", he added.