Taoiseach expects referendum date to be announced on Tuesday

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said today that the expects the Government to announce the date for the European Fiscal Treaty Referendum on Tuesday.

Mr Kenny was speaking in Shanghai in China where he is beginning a four-day trade mission involving 90 Irish companies.

The referendum is likely to be held in late May before both the Euro 2012 football tournament and the Eucharistic congress.

"The Government will decide on a date, I expect, and that will be announced by Government immediately after the meeting," he said.

"This is an insurance policy for our country in the future.

"You’re aware that we're in a programme for the next two years, you’re aware that countries which emerge from a programme, if in any unforeseen circumstances, they were to look for money to draw down from the ESM [European Stability Mechanism], ratification of the treaty is necessary."