FG admits a second Lisbon vote necessary

FINE GAEL admitted yesterday that a second referendum would have to be held on the Lisbon treaty. But the party called for a number of “confidence-building measures” before any such vote was held.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it would not be feasible to hold the second vote in tandem with next summer’s European elections, as rushing the process could have “catastrophic” consequences — in other words, the public could vote no a second time.

Mr Kenny wants the Government to first launch a number of initiatives to help restore the public’s faith in the European project.