TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has announced his intention to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty by the end of next October providing legal guarantees on Irish concerns are agreed.
Speaking at the end of the EU summit in Brussels yesterday, Mr Cowen said he had presented and explained Irish concerns to his European partners and the EU had shown itself ready to respond.
"The change in the commission arrangements so that Ireland keeps its commissioner is hugely significant," the Taoiseach said.
He said the undertaking by Ireland's EU partners that the concerns of the Irish people would be addressed meant that they were well on the way to a new package.
"On the basis of the agreement today, and on condition of our being able to satisfactorily put guarantees in place, I have said I would be prepared to return to the public . . . to seek their approval of it," Mr Cowen added.
Apart from the commissioner issue, the Taoiseach asked for undertakings on issues of concern to the Irish people like neutrality, tax, family and ethical issues.
"This is also agreed. Furthermore, they have agreed to confirm the high importance which the Union attaches to workers' rights. That is of considerable significance in the context of the charter which will provide explicit legal protection for workers' rights if the treaty is ratified," he said.
"I am particularly pleased that our requirement on keeping a commissioner for Ireland will be met. This was very hard fought and is a very, very significant concession by the others. It is a major achievement by Ireland. Several member states were strongly opposed."
Mr Cowen praised the work of the Oireachtas subcommittee on Lisbon and said he had briefed his EU colleagues on the contents of the committee's report.
"I made it clear that a satisfactory response to the concerns of the Irish people is essential. On the basis of what we have agreed today I am confident that we are on the right path," he added.
The Taoiseach said that he had briefed Opposition leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, before travelling to Brussels and he would be briefing them about the outcome on his return.
"I'd like to emphasis again that this is a national issue of huge importance to Ireland, clearly over and above party politics," he said.
On climate change, the Taoiseach said the agreed package was good for the environment and good for Ireland and he insisted that Irish concerns had been taken on board. "The reality for all countries is that if we are to make progress in tackling climate change, we have to make meaningful adjustments. There will inevitably be some change involved for all.
"Europe said that we would unilaterally reduce our emissions by 20 per cent compared to 1990. We have set out exactly how we will do that in detail. Ireland will play its full part in delivering on that."
Mr Cowen paid tribute to Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley, and his officials, for the work they had done in negotiating the agreement. "Their work was an indispensable part in enabling Ireland to accept the package," he said.
Mr Cowen added that the agreement was a testament to Europe's ability to keep working until an agreement was reached.
• The countrys largest trade union Siptu gave a guarded response to the developments in Brussels. Siptu general president Jack O'Connor said union leaders would assess the substance of what was being proposed, but warned that concerns over workers' rights had to be addressed in any move forward.
"Workers voted overwhelmingly against the original proposition and they are unlikely to be attracted by an alternative unless issues relating to people's rights at work are addressed in a tangible and meaningful way. There are issues which need to be dealt with at EU level, but a great deal can be done by the Irish Government at an exclusively domestic level."