Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the Lisbon referendum; the various procedures for Ireland and Europe as a whole for full and final approval of the treaty from referendum date on 2 October 2009 here to presidential signing to formal endorsement in Rome; and if the process will be clarified with time scales for different stages. [41543/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On Friday, 2 October the Irish people gave a ringing endorsement to the proposal to amend the Constitution of Ireland in order to allow Ireland to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. The referendum was supported by 67.13% of those who voted in a turnout of 59% of voters. The full result of the referendum was published in Issue no. 80 of Iris Oifigiúil on Tuesday 6 October. Dáil Éireann approved the terms of the Treaty under Article 29.5.2o of the Constitution on Wednesday 7 October by way of the following Dáil motion:

"That Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, signed at Lisbon, 13th December 2007, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on Tuesday, 6th October 2009"

President McAleese signed the 28th Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009 into law on Thursday 15 October. On the following day, she signed the instrument of Ireland's ratification of the treaty of Lisbon. Ireland's ratification process was completed when, on Friday 23 October, in accordance with Article 6 of the Treaty, Minister of State Dick Roche T.D. deposited the Instrument of Ratification with the Government of Italy, which acts as Depository State for this Treaty.

All 27 Member States have now completed their ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by depositing their Instruments of Ratification with the Government of Italy. The Treaty will enter into force on 1 December 2009. In order to give effect to the relevant provisions of the Lisbon Treaty in the domestic law of the State, the European Union Bill 2009 was enacted by Dáil Éireann and signed into law by the President on Tuesday 27 October. The European Union Act 2009 will be subject to a Commencement Order on 1 December, the same day on which the Treaty enters into force.