PRESS CONFERENCE:Taoiseach Brian Cowen has announced his intention to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty by the end of next October as long as the legal guarantees on Irish concerns are agreed.
Speaking at the end of the EU summit in Brussels today Mr Cowen said he had presented and explained Irish concerns to his European partners and the EU had shown itself ready to respond.
“The change in the Commission arrangements so that Ireland keeps its Commissioner is hugely significant,” the Taoiseach told a press conference.
He said the undertaking by Ireland’s EU partners that the concerns of the Irish people would be addressed meant that they were well on the way to a new package.
“On the basis of the agreement today, and on condition of our being able to satisfactorily put guarantees in place, I have said I would be prepared to return to the public to put a new package and to seek their approval of it.”
Mr Cowen added that it was important to stress that there was a lot of detailed work to be carried out in the months ahead.
Apart from the Commission issue Mr Cowen asked for undertakings on issues of concern to the Irish people like neutrality, tax, family and ethical issues.
“This is also agreed. Furthermore, they have agreed to confirm the high importance which the Union attaches to workers’ rights. That is of considerable significance in the context of the Charter which will provide explicit legal protection for workers’ rights if the Treaty is ratified.
“I am particularly please that our requirement on keeping a commissioner for Ireland will be met. This was very hard fought and is a very, very significant concession by the others: it is a major achievement by Ireland. Several member states were strongly opposed.”
Mr Cowen praised the work of the Oireachtas sub committee on Lisbon and said he had briefed his EU colleagues on the contents of the committee’s report.
“I made it clear that a satisfactory response to the concerns of the Irish people is essential. On the basis of what we have agreed today I am confident that we are on the right path.”
The Taoiseach said that he had briefed the Opposition leader, Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore, before travelling to Brussels and he would be briefing them about the outcome on his return.
“I’d like to emphasis again that this is a national issue of huge importance to Ireland, clearly over and above party politics,” he said.
