COWEN SPEECH:TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen gave his fellow EU leaders a commitment that the Irish Government would ratify the Lisbon Treaty if the package he was proposing to them in Brussels yesterday was accepted.
Mr Cowen thanked all his colleagues for their understanding and for their spirit of solidarity.
He said it had always been clear that Ireland needed to stay with the EU but the concerns of Irish citizens needed to be addressed. The draft conclusions presented to the meeting after contacts with the French presidency were the result of intense negotiations.
The Taoiseach stressed that the issue of the Irish commissioner was a very important one and he was glad to have confirmation from commission president José Manuel Barroso that a membership of 27 could work well.
That was one aspect which would reassure people that their concerns were being taken on board, but other concerns needed to be addressed through legal guarantees, which in principle should not pose problems to others.
These assurances would have to be robust and able to withstand any domestic challenge so as not to undermine his Government's credibility. "We need a spirit of credibility and solidarity. It is essential to show the Irish people their concerns are taken on board," said Mr Cowen.
"If we agree on this political package I commit the Irish Government to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. For that we need your support and assistance," he said. "We are convinced of the value of the treaty and its benefits. It is vital for Ireland and for all. An agreement today is a signal to address future concerns."
He said that in October the European Council had decided to identify the elements of a solution and the way forward, and that was what the presidency and the Irish Government had been doing over the last weeks and months.
The Government wanted to see the treaty enter into force as soon as possible without interfering with the ratification process. For that to happen it had a duty to represent the wishes and concerns of its electorate.
The reasons for the negative vote had been lack of information, fear of lack of influence, social/ethical issues, a threat to workers' rights, taxation issues and neutrality.
Mr Cowen ended by thanking French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his colleagues for their efforts.
In response Mr Sarkozy thanked Mr Cowen for his courage and for taking responsibility for the issue. "Europe needs Ireland," he said.
President Sarkozy explained the compromise package and said the treaty needed to come into force by the end of next year. Those member states that had ratified the treaty would not be re-ratifying it, he said.
The European Council needed to take account of Irish concerns. "We need to give Brian the elements to win a new referendum," he said.
The president asked his colleagues to indicate that if the treaty enters into force there will be one commissioner per member state. On neutrality, abortion, and tax, Ireland should be given legal guarantees but these guarantees should not involve re-ratification of the treaty.
He said these guarantees could be ratified at the same time as Croatia's accession treaty. The change in allocation of European Parliament seats could also be ratified at that time.