Ratify by next summer, Ireland urged

THE Government last night came under pressure to ratify the Lisbon Treaty before the European elections next summer.

President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, said Ireland, with the help of other EU countries, should come up with a solution to the impasse by October, and move to ratify the treaty before the June 2009 elections.

President of the Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said the next meeting of European leaders in October would be an “appropriate time” for future discussions on the best way to proceed following the Irish rejection of the treaty.