EU's Barroso confident of Irish 'yes' in second treaty vote

(BRUSSELS) - European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso voiced confidence Friday that Irish voters would back the EU's Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum after Dublin secured guarantees on sovereignty.

"I'm especially pleased that we have agreed the Irish guarantees. This gives the Irish people all the guarantees they need," Barroso told journalists after an EU summit in Brussels.

"It gives me all confidence we'll get a 'yes' vote at the Irish referendum."

Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty in a first referendum a year ago and another is necessary if Ireland is to ratify it, which all EU countries have to do for it to enter force.

Ireland's European partners accepted guarantees affirming the country's military neutrality, taxation system and stance on social issues like abortion in hope that Irish voters would back the treaty the next time around.