Cowen: There is no plan B if referendum rejects treaty

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has said he will not go back to Europe to renegotiate the Lisbon treaty if it’s rejected by the Irish people in next month’s referendum, saying “it may not be perfect but it is the best deal on the table”.

Mr Cowen said there is no plan B in the event of a no vote on June 12, but refused to comment on whether he would hold a second referendum as happened with the Nice treaty in 2002.

He said a rejection of the Lisbon treaty will “create a degree of uncertainty within the European Union about its direction” and how it will make its decisions.