AS HE left a working lunch with President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Élysée Palace yesterday, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he was "more hopeful and more optimistic than yesterday".
If the smiling faces of the Irish leader, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ambassador were anything to judge by, Ireland's Lisbon Treaty road map is nearing completion, with the blessing of the French EU presidency.
It was the third Sarkozy-Cowen lunch since July. The French complained the Irish brought rain with them, but the mood felt lighter than at the time of the Taoiseach's previous visit, on October 1st. Twenty-eight Republican guards, decked in gleaming helmets and sabres, stood to attention for Mr Cowen. Mr Sarkozy put his arm around "Brian" on the steps of the palace. A liveried servant carried a case of wine to the boot of the Ambassador's car - a Christmas gift for the Taoiseach.
Before the meeting, a high-ranking source at the Élysée commented: "We respect the choice of the Irish, and the wish of the 26 other member states to see the Lisbon Treaty enter into force. We are looking for a path between the two, that satisfies everyone. We believe it is possible to provide responses to concerns expressed by the Irish. We are looking for the right wording." This was echoed by Mr Cowen. "We are very anxious to allay all concerns [that led people to vote against the Treaty]," the Taoiseach said.
His "first duty" was "to the people of Ireland, and I intend discharging that duty conscientiously by allaying the concerns that have been identified".
A source close to the Taoiseach said Dublin sent a document proposing assurances to the Irish to Paris a couple of weeks ago, and that a semi-final document should be ready early next week, before the European Council meets on December 11th-12th.
In an interview published this week, Ireland's EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said there should be no rerun of the Lisbon Treaty referendum, and that the founder of the anti-Lisbon group Libertas, Declan Ganley, "was singularly successful" and "won the argument".
"The matter of whether there will be a referendum or not is a matter for the Government to decide," Mr Cowen said, seeming to rebuke Mr McCreevy.
"Our first and only consideration is our own national interests. And I think it's important that we live up to our obligations as members of the EU to work with colleagues to find a solution for all in the union." Mr Cowen repeatedly evaded questions about a second referendum. "We are in the work in progress phase at the moment. No decisions have yet been taken," he said. He praised the "efforts and understanding" of his European colleagues, but added: "Also, of course, Ireland has an obligation. I have said always that solidarity in the EU is a 27-way street, not just a one-way street."
Asked if he was discouraged by the Gael poll which this week claimed 70 per cent of Irish people reject a second Lisbon referendum and 57 per cent would vote No in a rerun, he said: "My job is not to react to every opinion poll. My job is to assess the national interests of our country, to discharge our obligations as full and participative members of the EU."
His hope, the Taoiseach said, "is that we can progress this discussion . . . and come up with conclusions to which all member states would sign up and agree."
Lisbon will not override Irish defence policy: page 15