Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the ratification of the Lisbon treaty in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14477/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To date, twenty-three Member States have ratified the Treaty of Lisbon. Ireland is among the four Member States not to have done so. The others are Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Of these, Germany and Poland have both completed their parliamentary procedures.

Germany is awaiting the outcome of a legal challenge to the compatibility of the Treaty with its Constitution. The decision of Germany's Constitutional Court is expected next month. If the Court does not find difficulties with the Treaty, the German President will sign the necessary instrument of ratification.

In Poland, parliamentary procedures were completed in April 2008, and all that is required is signature by President Lech Kaczynski.

In the Czech Republic, the lower House voted in favour of ratification in February. The upper House, the Senate, is expected to debate ratification early next month. Once the Treaty has been approved by both Houses, the signature of President Klaus is required to complete the process.

The Treaty cannot enter into force unless and until it is ratified by all Member States. At its meeting in December, the European Council confirmed its wish to see the Treaty of Lisbon enter into force by the end of 2009.