Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche has defended his belief that a second Lisbon Treaty referendum may be necessary.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, he said this was his personal opinion. Ireland, he said, had to remain at the heart of the EU.
Ministers have so far called it too early to say if Ireland would hold another vote on the treaty meant to replace the EU Constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
‘My personal view is that a referendum is the appropriate response to the position we are in,’ Mr Roche also told the Irish Independent.
‘This is very much a personal view at this stage.’
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said last month Ireland would give the EU clarity on the way forward by a December summit.
Mr Roche said, however, that all 26 other member states were likely to have ratified the treaty by the end of the year, which would leave Ireland in an isolated position.
