The likely consequences of rejection

The Lisbon Treaty could not be implemented and the current decision-making structures agreed under the Nice treaty in 2001 would continue to apply.

Some minor reforms not requiring treaty base might be introduced.

The Government could order a rerun of the referendum, although observers warn that it would not be easy to come up with Nice-like Irish protocols to sweeten the pill.

EU likely to face a similar crisis of confidence to the one that it suffered when the French and Dutch rejected the EU constitution in 2005.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Government would lose credibility at EU level, possibly undermining Ireland's influence in upcoming talks on a range of issues.

EU leaders unlikely to agree to try and draft a new EU treaty in the short to medium term.

EU leaders unlikely to agree to try and draft a new EU treaty in the short to medium term.

It is possible that some EU states would attempt to move ahead with closer integration on their own - a situation Irish diplomats fear would isolate Ireland at EU level.

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