IBEC welcomes agreement on Lisbon assurances

IBEC have welcomed the assurances agreed by EU leaders at the European Summit in response to Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty earlier this year.

IBEC Director General Turlough O'Sullivan said: "The assurances provide a means to definitively address Irish concerns. They provide a way to move forward with our European partners, so that Ireland can return to its place at the very centre of European decision-making.

"The rejection of the Lisbon Treaty has created great uncertainty about Ireland's relationship with Europe, at a very challenging economic time.

"The assurances agreed by EU leaders today begins the process of addressing this uncertainty.

"Irish businesses are facing increasingly difficult economic conditions and many jobs are at risk. Now more than ever is a time to focus our attention on working with our European partners to address our shared concerns."