Cowen confident of winning second Lisbon referendum

The Taoiseach has said he believes voters will support the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum following an EU agreement on special concessions for Ireland.

Under the deal struck at the European Council Summit in Brussels this morning, Ireland will keep its EU Commissioner while legal guarantees will be drawn up on abortion, tax and neutrality.

The Government will now move to hold a second Lisbon referendum before the end of next October.

Brian Cowen has said the agreement was a measure of the solidarity shown by the other member states to Ireland’s dilemma.