Taoiseach Brian Cowen today welcomed the signing by the Czech president Vaclav Klaus of a charter which removes the last obstacle to ratification of the Lisbon Treaty
Mr Cowen described the announcement as “excellent news for Ireland and the European Union”.
The signing of the treaty brings into life the EU's plan to overhaul its institutions and win a greater role on the world stage. The treaty will now come into force on January 1st, 2010.
Speaking this afternoon Mr Cowen said that it was gratifying that a Treaty, which was heavily influenced by Irish perspectives, would be coming into effect in the near future.
Irish people approved the treaty under the largest turnout ever in an Irish referendum last month after having previously rejected it in 2008.
Meanwhile, Joe Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission said that he hoped that steps could not be undertaken to fill key posts that come into force with the enactment of the treaty.
"I hope that we can now move forward as quickly as possible on the nomination of the president of the European Council and vice president of the Commission high representative," he said.
British prime minister Gordon Brown also praised the charter signing, describing it as an "important and historic step for all of Europe".
"Today is a day when Europe looks forward, when it sets aside years of debate on its institutions, and moves to take strong and collective action on the issues that matter most to European citizens: security, climate change, jobs and growth," he said.