Taoiseach to sign EU treaty today

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will join other EU leaders in Lisbon today to sign the controversial EU Reform Treaty.

The charter is expected to be put to a referendum in Ireland during 2008.

In a national opinion poll published last month, 13% of those surveyed said they would vote against the Treaty while 62% didn't know or had no opinion.

The Government has insisted that key Irish interests are fully represented within the complex Treaty.

Today's signature ceremony takes place at the historic Jeronimos Monastery in the Portuguese capital.

It will be attended by the 27 EU state leaders, as well as European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

Afterwards, the EU leaders are expected to pose for the traditional photograph.

Many of the politicians, including the Taoiseach, will later travel on to Brussels for the European Council summit tomorrow.