Committee Seeks Answers From Microsoft Chief Over Lisbon

The Managing Director of Microsoft Ireland will be among witnesses appearing before the Oireachtas Sub-committee on the fall-out from the Lisbon Treaty.

The Committee will be questioning Mr Paul Rellis on the implications for businesses in Ireland following the rejection of the Lisbon referendum.

Chair of the Sub Committee, Senator Paschal Donohoe said: "As head of one of the largest multi-national employers in the country, it will be extremely informative to hear Mr Rellis’ perspective on whether there have been ramifications for Irish businesses following the outcome of the Lisbon Treaty."

"We would like to find out if the treaty result has had a tangible effect on the business sector and if so what this will mean for the future of this vital area."

The Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in Europe is beginning its second week of deliberations and is examining "Challenges Facing Ireland and Implications of the Lisbon Treaty Result."

However, there has been some speculation that the Government could announce the plan of action sooner rather than later.

Speaking at the start of the second day of a meeting of EU Leaders and Foreign Ministers in Brussels, the Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said the world has changed since the referendum took place four months ago.

"Since June, we have been through a major political crisis in Georgia and we are now in an unprecedented economic environment in which decisive action has been required at both national and European level."

Possibly hinting at a re-run of the referendum, Mr Martin said these event had "unavoidable implications".

"The desire to bring the long period of Treaty reform to a close is now stronger than it was earlier this year," he said.

Minister Martin added that: "Finding an acceptable resolution to our Lisbon dilemma is a task which the Government is clearly focused on. By December, it is our aim to have identified a way forward and the steps that have to be taken."

(DW)