Taoiseach attends EU Summit

The Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen T.D., accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D. and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., will attend the European Council in Brussels today.

The agenda for the Council Meeting covers institutional issues; the economic, financial and social situation; climate change; and external relations.

Of particular importance to Ireland will be the discussion by the European Council on the legal guarantees in response to the concerns of the Irish people regarding the Lisbon Treaty. Last December the European Council reached agreement that Ireland would hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, provided that each Member State would retain a Commissioner, and that satisfactory legal guarantees could be secured on a number of issues of concern to the Irish people.

The Taoiseach said "I am confident that we will get what we were promised in December. Agreement on the binding guarantees shall put to rest a number of concerns which became key issues during last year's referendum."

ENDS