TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has declined to confirm a date for the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Mr Cowen told the Dáil that the last meeting, in December, of European leaders had given Ireland until June to agree a text for the referendum. They did not have to wait until June, he said.

His remarks came as speculation mounted as to whether the referendum would be held in the autumn or about the time of the European and local elections.

“It may be necessary to wait until then or it may be possible to get the work done sooner,” Mr Cowen said.

But he added that until such time as agreement has been reached on the texts “we are not in a position to ascertain whether we can proceed with the referendum, although that is our intention”.

Mr Cowen said: “We are dealing with an economic and financial crisis currently along with the international recession, and where we stand on the Lisbon Treaty is an issue as far as the international investment community goes. It is my strong view that it is not helpful to Ireland’s case at the moment.”

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: “One of the reasons for a negative result in the last referendum was the uncertainty and confusion that arose because the Taoiseach’s predecessor always responded in that way to questions in the House. On at least a dozen occasions when former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was asked the question, he never gave an indication of when he expected to hold a referendum.”

Mr Cowen said that the “timeline” for a referendum was set out in the conclusions from the meeting of EU leaders in December.

“We have until the specified time,” he said. “It is not a question of waiting until then. We should get on with the work, do it as quickly as possible and see what options are available to the country.”

The Taoiseach stressed his “strong view”, particularly given the European and global economic crisis “that this uncertainty regarding the Lisbon Treaty is an issue that does not benefit us to any great extent”.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that if there was a second referendum, “not a single word, let alone a line, in the Lisbon Treaty will change”.

Mr Cowen said a decision about each EU state keeping a commissioner “can be taken by decision of the European council, but the assurances we can find to give legal effect to concerns identified as influential for some people in deciding to vote against, is an exercise in democracy”.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore asked about the possibility of agreement for the March meeting of EU leaders, and whether Fine Gael and Labour would be included in drafting documents.

Mr Cowen did not see agreement “arising” in March “at the moment but a lot of work can take place in two or three weeks if it can be agreed”.