Ireland eyes 'yes' in new EU poll, but criticism persists

(DUBLIN) - Irish political leaders said Friday they were confident that a new referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty in October would give the text the go-ahead, but opponents promised to put up a fight.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen announced after a summit of EU leaders in Brussels that Ireland would hold a new vote after it secured guarantees on its military neutrality and taxation system, as well as on issues such as abortion.

Eamon Gilmore, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said he was confident the agreement would enable Irish voters to overcome their resistance to the treaty which they rejected in a referendum last year.

Gilmore said he would be recommending to his party that "we support and strongly campaign" for a "yes" vote in the new referendum.

Brendan Butler, director of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC), said the guarantees were an "important first step" towards getting a green light for the treaty.

"The treaty's successful ratification is more important now than ever. The outcome of the next referendum will define Ireland's future relationship with Europe, and therefore with the world at large.

"A positive result is vital to ensure Ireland remains a constructive and dynamic partner in Europe. That is where our interests lie and where our future rests," Butler said.

The Green Party, which shares power with Cowen's centre-right Fianna Fail, said the new guarantees would allow the party to hold a special members' convention to decide its stance on the treaty ahead of the referendum.

But Sinn Fein, which has been one of the fiercest opponents of the treaty, insisted the guarantees amounted to nothing.

"On the face of it, it appears the government has neither sought nor secured any changes to the text of the treaty itself," the opposition party's Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald said.

"So, later this year the Irish people will be asked to vote on exactly the same treaty with exactly the same contents as before. Only this time with a promise of a protocol to be attached to a treaty at some future date."

Patricia McKenna of the anti-treaty People's Movement said people were being hoodwinked into believing that the government had secured changes to the text.

"The opposite is the case. They have failed to get any changes because they didn't look for them in the first place."

Opinion polls suggest Irish voters will vote in favour this time.

Almost all the 27 EU member states have endorsed the treaty, which is designed to streamline the way the expanding bloc operates.

Only the Czech Republic and Poland must complete the technical ratification while a legal challenge is pending in Germany.