Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps taken to date to make preparation for the promised referendum on the Lisbon Treaty; the extent of preparations to date to address the issues raised in the course of the previous referendum; if he has received confirmation from his EU colleagues regarding the full extent to which these issues are expected to be clarified in a way sufficient to meet the requirements and concerns as expressed by the people here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14754/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At the meeting of the European Council in December, the Taoiseach briefed his colleagues on the issues underlying the outcome in the referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon last June. He did so based on the extensive research and analysis commissioned by the Government in the wake of the vote, and on the excellent report of the Oireachtas sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in Europe.

He highlighted a number of key issues of concern to voters, and, in response, the European Council collectively agreed that these concerns "shall be addressed to the mutual satisfaction of Ireland and other Member States". Specifically, the European Council agreed that, provided the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, each member state will continue to have the right to nominate a Commissioner. It agreed that legal guarantees will be given to Ireland in the areas of taxation, defence and the provisions of the Constitution on the right to life, education and family. It also agreed that the high importance the EU attaches to social issues, including workers' rights, will be confirmed.

Detailed work is now under way to give effect to these commitments. This work should be finalised by mid-2009. If the Government is fully satisfied with the outcome, as we expect to be, we are committed to seeking ratification of the Treaty by the end of the term of the current Commission, which is expected to leave office at the end of October.

Our work has been taken forward at a number of different levels with our EU partners and with the EU institutions. Throughout, we have stressed the need for the guarantees to be legally robust. In this we have the firm understanding and support of our partners. As recent events have underscored, the European Union remains a key vehicle for the promotion and protection of Ireland's national interest. The Government attaches utmost priority to securing our future by ensuring that Ireland remains at the heart of the Union.