Taoiseach keeps door open for early poll on Lisbon
Taoiseach Brian Cowen yesterday appeared to leave the door open to an early re-run of the Lisbon Treaty, claiming agreement on guarantees could still be obtained before the local and European elections in June.
"We do not have to wait until June. It may be necessary to wait until then or it may be possible to get the work done sooner. We will have to wait and see," Mr Cowen told the Dail.
"We have until June to complete this work but if we can complete it sooner, all the better."
Given the current economic and financial crisis, where Ireland stands on the Lisbon Treaty is an important issue as far as the international investment community goes, the Taoiseach added.
"It is my strong view that it is not helpful to Ireland's case at the moment. The quicker we are in a position to clear up and deal with those issues. . . the better," he said.
Mr Cowen was speaking as the latest Eurobarometer poll was published, showing that Ireland has suffered the largest decline in national economic confidence across all the EU states and is now one of the most pessimistic nations.
There has been a "dramatic collapse" in confidence in the Irish economy, with 84pc of Irish people now describing the current situation as "bad".
This represents a 63pc increase on 2007 and leaves Irish people among the "most pessimistic" in Europe when it comes to their economic outlook for the next 12 months, the Eurobarometer poll published yesterday concluded.
"This represents the largest decline in national economic confidence across all EU member states," pollsters claimed.
Yesterday's insightful survey of 1,000 Irish people, which was conducted last October before the economic situation worsened, found that 80pc believe the then employment situation was "bad".
This was substantially above the EU average of 63pc.
However, while Irish voters are pessimistic about the future of the national economy, one hopeful note is that the overwhelming majority of Irish people (88pc) said they were happy with the life they led, ranking sixth-highest out of the 27 member states on this measure.
Trust
However, Professor Richard Sinnott, who conducted the poll, yesterday conceded that this may have fallen since October.
"Trust in all European institutions has declined over the six months prior to the poll but only 26pc of respondents would be in favour of a two-speed Europe," Prof Sinnott said.
Despite the decline in trust, 59pc of Irish respondents continue to have a positive image of the EU, amongst the highest in Europe, with only Romanian respondents having a more positive image of the EU.
"There is strong support for Ireland's membership of the single European currency with 87pc of Irish respondents saying they are in favour it," said the report.
"Furthermore, 64pc of respondents believe Ireland is more economically stable because it is part of the euro," the report concluded.
- ine Kerr Political Correspondent
