Ireland has secured strong legal guarantees from the European Union which do address serious concerns as expressed by the Irish people during the last Lisbon Treaty referendum - It is Ireland's economic interest that the Lisbon Treaty is ratified -


Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP for the constituency of North and West and the leader of the Fianna Fail group in the European Parliament has called on voters to back the next Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said that " the Irish Government has sought to address the serious concerns of the Irish people as expressed in last year's Lisbon Treaty referendum.

That is why I welcome the agreement reached at the recent summit of EU leaders which has put in place a series of legal guarantees which fully protect Irish interests in the policy areas of taxation, abortion, Irish neutrality and workers rights.

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said that " these were all key issues which the Irish people voiced concern about during the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign last year.

Moreover, I believe that it is fully in Ireland's economic interest that Ireland ratifies the Lisbon Treaty and stays at the very heart of the European Union.

Investors and companies around the world want to see Ireland stay as a leading, committed and a respected member of the European Union.

The marketplace of 500 million people living in the other 26 EU member states offers real marketing opportunities for Irish exporting companies.



It is vitally important for Ireland's economic future that we ratify the Lisbon Treaty."



July 6th 2009.



For further information, Contact Dave Harmon at tel number:- 00-32-473-513-410.



ENDS.