Asked if the Prime Minister would welcome a second referendum in Ireland and would it have any impact on a possible referendum in the UK, the PMS replied that as people knew, we had already ratified the Lisbon Treaty and had had an extensive parliamentary debate on the passage of the Lisbon Treaty Bill. Any decision that the Irish took on their own ratification process, was a matter for the Irish ...

The Irish media reports that former Taoiseach John Bruton – now the EU’s Ambassador to the US – has called for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. In an appearance at the newly formed Oireachtas Lisbon sub-committee he said that a re-run referendum needed to be preceded by a better information campaign, adding "It is fair to say that the Lisbon Treaty was written in such a ...

Irish Times Political Editor Stephan Collins has an article in the paper arguing that "a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is doomed to almost certain defeat." He therefore suggests that the core of the Treaty should be passed through the Irish Parliament, with a far more limited referendum held on certain points of controversy: "If a referendum cannot be won, the only solution is for the D" ...

Irish PM admits second Lisbon referendum will be considered The Irish Independent reports that Taoiseach Brian Cowen has conceded the government will have to consider a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. He said: "I'm saying it's simply a matter the Government have to consider in due course.

The Irish Times reports on a poll released yesterday, conducted the day after the Irish Lisbon Treaty referendum, which has found that the majority of the Irish public are happy with the result of the Lisbon Treaty referendum, including one in 10 of those who voted Yes.

Reuters reported over the weekend that the Irish government is expected later this week to announce a re-run referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, to take place before January 2010. However, the Irish Independent and the Irish Times quote Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin saying that a second referendum is “still uncertain”, and will depend on what assurances other EU leaders are will...

The Irish Independent reports that Irish PM Brian Cowen has indicated that parts of the Lisbon Treaty can be ratified in the Dail (Irish lower chamber) without a referendum. The article notes that “it is understood that Mr Cowen sees this course of action as an option.

With domestic attention focused on the extraordinary David Davis affair we should not overlook what is happening on the other side of the Irish Sea. With counting still being completed it looks very much as though Irish voters have torpedoed the EU's Lisbon Treaty by voting "No" in their country's referendum. Irish justice minister Dermot Ahern sounded resigned to the inevitable when he said: "Bas...

A new poll by Irish company Red C, commissioned by Open Europe, has found that 71% of Irish voters are against a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, and that, of those who expressed an opinion, 62% would vote "no" That would mean the "no" lead would increase from 6 points in the recent referendum to a commanding 24 point lead in a second vote.

Open Europe has launched a Twitter account. To keep up to date and follow our activities please click here: In the Irish Times, Roger Cole, Chair of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance in Ireland, argues that the second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty “is not an Irish battle.