RTÉ.ie/Lisbon has complete Lisbon referendum coverage
Legislation to ratify the Lisbon Teaty has passed all its stages in the Westminster parliament following a House of Lords debate this evening.
An attempt by the Conservative party in the House of Lords to delay British ratification until the autumn was defeated.
British ratification of the treaty will be complete when the European Union (Amendment) Bill is signed into law by Queen Elizabeth.
The British government acknowledges that all 27 EU members must ratify the Lisbon Treaty before it comes into force.
It says it will go ahead with its ratification process as planned, despite Ireland's referendum result rejecting the treaty.
The Dáil concluded its debate on the result of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum earlier this evening.
During the debate, Junior Minister Martin Mansergh suggested that the holding of a referendum on each EU Treaty needed to be looked at.
He said the system of holding referendums 'needs to be looked at carefully if we are not continually to be hampered in the future vis-a-vis all other member states'.
He said the Constitution had to be respected but it was with good reason that other European states had chosen to use parliamentary ratification of the Treaty and the ruling party in France had won a mandate to do that last year.
EP backs continuation of ratification
Earlier in the European Parliament, a majority of MEPs backed calls for member states to continue with the treaty ratification process.
It follows calls from the Commission and the Council of Ministers for that process to continue.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen meets his European counterparts in Brussels tomorrow – he will be asking for the time and space for Ireland to consider the Referendum outcome and the reasons for it, both at home and in Europe.
Irish opponents of Lisbon claim the Treaty is dead and a new one should be negotiated, with Sinn Féin producing a list of 17 proposed changes which it says would make a new Treaty acceptable.
Patricia McKenna, chairperson of the anti-Lisbon People's Movement, admitted such negotiations could take years - but at least it would result in a Treaty that would be supported by people all across Europe.
Mr Cowen insisted that last week's No vote was not a rejection of Europe. Speaking at the beginning of the Dáil debate, Mr Cowen said it was too early to fully assess the consequences, adding there was now a period of uncertainty.
He acknowledged that people were concerned about tax harmonisation, an EU common defence policy, and the loss of Ireland's Commissioner for five out of 15 years.
Mr Cowen said he accepted the people's decision, but that the country's future is bound to Europe.
He also pointed out that the referendum result had been welcomed by French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen and by the British eurosceptic UK Independence Party. Mr Cowen said he believed no proud Irish person could be happy that they were rejoicing in the rejection.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said there were serious lessons to be learned, considering that so many of the political parties had urged a Yes vote.
He also warned against Ireland's isolation within Europe.
Protests mark EU Parliament debate
Interruptions and flag waving marked the EU Parliament's debate on the future of the treaty.
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty must continue, a view which was echoed by the majority of speakers from the main parties.
However, that call was roundly condemned by the UK Independence Party. Its leader Nigel Farrage said it was a disgusting insult to democracy.
But UKIP and other eurosceptic MEPs were then criticised by the speaker of the house for wearing green t-shirts and holding up banners saying 'Respect the Irish vote'.
They were also criticised by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael MEPs.
Brian Crowley said they had disrespected the Irish flag, while Avril Doyle called them a motley crew of British right-wingers who had not shown much respect for Irish voters in the past.
Leader of the socialist group Martin Schulz called for the removal of Charlie McCreevy as Internal Market Commissioner, claiming his dismissive attitude to the Treaty and disrespect for workers' rights had cost votes.
