It is inevitable that the Irish would vote on the European Union (EU)'s Lisbon Treaty in a referendum again, but only after the Irish government conducts careful negotiations with the European Council to make certain modifications to it, Ireland's Minister for European Affairs, Dick Roche, said here Tuesday.
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen will propose a "road map" at the EC meeting in December identifying certain apprehensions of the Irish people, including ill-information, conscription into a European army, loss of a permanent EU commissioner's post for Ireland, and loss of control over taxation policy as well as neutrality, Roche said.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said the government had been talking to the EU presidency and legal advisors about addressing Irish voters' concerns.
After those concerns are resolved, which might take months, Ireland will see another referendum, Roche said.
He said his government has not discussed a date for the vote as it will be topical only after a final agreement is reached with the EU.
The Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty in a nationwide referendum in June.
(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2008)
