October vote on Lisbon as Cowen wins guarantees

THE Taoiseach said he expects Ireland’s second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty will be held in early October after securing the legal guarantees the Government sought.

After a gruelling 12 hours of negotiations over the past two days, mainly with Britain, Brian Cowen said he had got the response he wanted.

He described the guarantees on taxation, neutrality and ethical issues as “cast- iron” and said they will be incorporated into a protocol to be attached to the EU treaty after Lisbon comes into force.