Taoiseach refuses to rule out second Lisbon vote

THE Taoiseach has not ruled out a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty and said the Government will consider it “in due course”.

Brian Cowen was responding to comments made last weekend by Europe Minister Dick Roche that a second referendum was the “most appropriate” way to deal with the political fallout from the rejection of the treaty by Irish voters in June. Mr Roche was speaking at the Humbert summer school in Mayo.

Speaking from Ballyconneely in Connemara yesterday, where he has spent most of his summer holidays, Mr Cowen said talk of a second referendum was just “idle speculation at this stage”.

“It’s a matter that the Government has to consider in due course,” he said.

“In fairness I think Dick Roche was at a summer school and was entitled to give his opinion as one would expect. I think it’s important to point out that the Government themselves are studying the outcome of that referendum,” he added.

Mr Cowen said he would also have to continue to consult with other EU leaders on the matter: “Obviously there will be a number of meetings with EU colleagues between now and the end of the year where it will be discussed further with them.

“So it’s not just a matter for our own personal consideration or national consideration, it’s a matter we have to discuss with colleagues as well,” he said.

The Taoiseach, who officially opened the Connemara Golf Links club house, also said that other structures may need to be looked at in order to strike a deal in relation to the national pay talks.

He said it was not clear whether the problems raised could be dealt with under the partnership system.

He will be meeting with the social partners next week in a scheduled meeting that was agreed following the collapse of the pay talks on August 2.