Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the holding of a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21786/09]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date and the form, including such guarantees as have been referred to in the press, of his next proposed consultation with the public here on the matter of a European treaty. [21849/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 72 together.

The Government is working with the other Member States and the EU institutions to finalise the texts of the legal guarantees which the European Council agreed in December should be given to Ireland.

Specifically, we are finalising texts in the areas of taxation, defence and the provisions of the Constitution on the right to life, education and family. We are also working on a Declaration confirming the high importance the EU attaches to social issues, including workers' rights. In accordance with the December European Council's Conclusions, it is intended that this work should be finalised at the June European Council.

If the Government is fully satisfied with the outcome of this work - and we have stressed the need for legally robust guarantees - we are committed to seeking ratification of the Treaty by the end of the term of the current Commission, which is due to leave office at the end of October.

In this event, the Government will introduce legislation - possibly before the summer recess - to provide for the holding of a referendum later in the year.