No decision yet on date for Lisbon vote, says Cowen

No decision has been taken regarding the holding of a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said today.

“Everything is entirely conditional on the concerns of the Irish people regarding tax, defence and social issues including workers’ rights being addressed to our satisifaction,” he told the Dáil.

“The decision to revisit ratification therefore remains firmly in our own hands,” he said.

The Government has secured several guarantees from its EU counterparts regarding voter concerns with the Lisbon Treaty.

The concessions in the sensitive areas of military neutrality, taxation policy and workers' rights also include the retention of a permanent commissioner and are aimed at having the treaty ratified by all 27 member states by January 1st, 2010.

Mr Cown said: “When these issues are addressed to our satisfaction, we have committed ourselves to seeking to ratify the treaty before the end of the term of the current Commission,” in November.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the Lisbon treaty was absolutely necessary for a strengthened Europe. He also said it is important the Irish people were given the “strongest possible protections for their concerns”.