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16/06/2009
Lisbon Guarantees Face Debate
Foreign Minister Michael Martin is said to be "quietly confident" as EU ambassadors prepare to debate Ireland's Lisbon Treaty concessions on Wednesday.
The legally binding clauses to be added to the treaty include no changes to the Irish taxation policy, no changes to the scope and application of the Irish constitution in relation to abortion, family law or education, and no change to Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality.
It is these issues that were held responsible for the failure of the treaty to be passed in last year's referendum in Ireland.
The Labour Party has expressed less confidence in the concessions being fully implemented than Minister Martin however, saying they must be watertight an address the issues that were of genuine concern to voters.
Labour Spokesperson on Europe and Human Rights, Joe Costello said: "While recent opinion polls have shown a healthy majority indicating an intention to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum expected to be held in the autumn, it would be a great mistake for anyone – and particularly for the government – to take this support for granted.
"There were similar levels of support in advance of the referendum last year, but that support was greatly eroded by concerns – some genuine, some totally baseless – that emerged during the campaign."
A re-run of the referendum is expected to take place later this year.
(DW/BMcC)
The legally binding clauses to be added to the treaty include no changes to the Irish taxation policy, no changes to the scope and application of the Irish constitution in relation to abortion, family law or education, and no change to Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality.
It is these issues that were held responsible for the failure of the treaty to be passed in last year's referendum in Ireland.
The Labour Party has expressed less confidence in the concessions being fully implemented than Minister Martin however, saying they must be watertight an address the issues that were of genuine concern to voters.
Labour Spokesperson on Europe and Human Rights, Joe Costello said: "While recent opinion polls have shown a healthy majority indicating an intention to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum expected to be held in the autumn, it would be a great mistake for anyone – and particularly for the government – to take this support for granted.
"There were similar levels of support in advance of the referendum last year, but that support was greatly eroded by concerns – some genuine, some totally baseless – that emerged during the campaign."
A re-run of the referendum is expected to take place later this year.
(DW/BMcC)
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