Cowen buys time before decision on way forward

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen managed to buy Ireland four months before he must decide what to do about the country’s rejection of the Lisbon treaty.

Most countries expect Ireland to hold a second referendum, preferably by next April, but they are aware that this must be carefully weighed in case of a second rejection. Foreign Minister Micheál Martin virtually ruled out renegotiating the treaty to include the long list of demands being made by Sinn Féin. Asked about the likelihood of the other countries agreeing to reopen the document to accommodate changes the no campaign want, he said, “It’s unattainable”.

This would leave Ireland looking for guarantees on various issues such as tax. They may also be able to convince the other countries to leave every country with a commissioner, although Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned this would be extremely difficult.