Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin has voiced confidence that the incoming Czech EU presidency will clear the way for a new referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
At a Brussels summit three weeks ago Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he would be prepared to hold a second ballot on the Lisbon Treaty provided satisfactory legal guarantees were provided to meet the concerns of voters.
The Czech Republic, whose president Vaclav Klaus is notoriously eurosceptic, takes over the EU's rotating six-month presidency from France at midnight Wednesday, and as such will be crucial in brokering a deal.
Studies found that Irish voters who rejected Lisbon in June notably had concerns about its impact on Ireland's tax arrangements and abortion laws, as well as military neutrality.
Martin said he looked forward to working with Prague agreeing legal guarantees promised to Ireland at the EU summit on 11-12 December, to help sway voters in a new referendum widely expected in the second half of 2009.
‘It is important for Ireland that we finalise these guarantees to our full satisfaction in the coming months. With the cooperation of our EU partners, I believe that we can achieve this goal,’ the minister said.
‘My prime objective for the coming year is to resolve the issues surrounding the Lisbon Treaty so that Ireland can continue to occupy its rightful place as a positive and constructive EU member state.’
