Irish Lisbon guarantees approved

The European Parliament has today approved the guarantees on neutrality, taxation and social issues for Ireland that are to be attached to the Lisbon Treaty.

After the rejection of the first Lisbon Treaty referendum in June 2008, the-then Fianna Fáil and Green Party coalition government sought and was granted the guarantees ahead of a second referendum in October 2009.

The securing of the legally binding guarantees helped to convince Irish voters that the Lisbon Treaty would not weaken sovereignty in a number of key areas, and the treaty was passed with 67.1 per cent in favour and 32.9 per cent against.

MEPS today voted 590 in favour with 20 against and 41 abstentions on the parliament's decision not to hold a convention. A second vote on the consultation with the European Parliament on the protocol was carried by 586 in favour, with 26 against and 34 abstentions.

An intergovernmental conference is now expected to be convened to adopt the Protocol. When it has been signed it will then have to be ratified by the parliaments of the 27 member states before becoming formally and legally attached to the EU treaties.