Lisbon Treaty Debate Needs Time: Martin

A decision on whether or not to stage a re-run of the Lisbon Treaty vote looked as far away as ever yesterday with news that the Minister for Foreign Affairs told the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs that while Ireland remains a strong supporter of, the national debate on its Lisbon vote had to be allowed to "take its course".

"I am acutely aware of the deep disappointment in the Parliament about the outcome of our referendum. I am also mindful of the very measured reaction of the leaders of this Parliament since June," Micheál Martin said.

"Ireland has been and remains a strong supporter of a greater role for the European Parliament in the EU legislative process... This parliament has played an important role in the evolution of the Union and must continue to do so in the period ahead.

"The Union is undoubtedly in a difficult situation in the aftermath of the referendum. We need to explore ways of moving forward together which respects the democratic will of the Irish people as well as the interests of our EU partners which have ratified the Treaty and see it as a vital element in the Union's future development."

"For our part, we want to maintain Ireland's position at the heart of an effective and responsive EU. This has always been Ireland's position throughout the three-and-a-half decades of our EU membership," he said, noting that the indications are that the Irish people want this "positive approach to the EU to continue".

Mr Martin told the committee the Government was determined to find a solution within a "reasonable time frame" but warned it was vital that such a solution met Irish needs as well as those of its EU partners and the Union's institutions.

"Finding a solution will not be easy, but I am convinced that it is possible," he said.

He also noted that no single issue dominated the referendum campaign: "This means that the situation now is more complex than was the case following the Nice Treaty referendum in 2001."

(BmcC)