Wallstrom insists EU supports Irish guarantees

The vice-president of the European Commission has insisted that the political will exists across the EU to grant the legal opt-outs being sought by the Government before a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Reports this morning say several EU member states are opposed to the Government's request for legally binding guarantees on abortion and other issues for fear that it might reopen debate in their own countries.

Speaking in Cork this afternoon, EC vice-president Margo Wallstrom said a balance needed to be struck to put the guarantees in place without causing problems in other member states.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin told the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs today that he would like the second Lisbon referendum to be held by November.