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Irish 'ready to hold new EU vote' Irish ready to hold new EU vote
(30 minutes later)
The Irish Republic is willing to hold a second referendum on the EU's reform treaty, according to draft documents at a Brussels EU summit, reports say. The Irish Republic is willing to hold a second referendum on the EU's reform treaty if given certain guarantees from the EU, a spokesman has told the BBC.
Those legally binding guarantees are included in draft conclusions due to be presented to EU leaders at a summit getting under way in Brussels.
The Lisbon Treaty has been on ice since being rejected by Irish voters in June.The Lisbon Treaty has been on ice since being rejected by Irish voters in June.
But a new vote is likely to be held by next October, with the EU presidency setting out guarantees designed to satisfy Irish voters, Irish media say.
The summit beginning in Brussels is also due to take crucial decisions on EU measures to tackle climate change.The summit beginning in Brussels is also due to take crucial decisions on EU measures to tackle climate change.
The proposal for a second referendum is included in draft conclusions which are expected to be presented by the current holders of the EU presidency, France, and signed off by EU leaders later on Thursday, the Irish Times reported. The proposal for a second referendum is included in draft conclusions which are being presented by the current holders of the EU presidency, France, and which have been seen by the BBC.
The EU is set to offer guarantees that the the treaty will not affect three main areas of concern to Irish "No" voters: abortion, neutrality and taxation, says the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell. According to the draft, the Irish government says "it is committed to seeking ratification" of the Lisbon Treaty by end of October next year.
An Irish government spokesman told the BBC that it was "seeking legally binding instruments to address the concerns of the Irish people", and that once it got those assurances, it would present "a roadmap for ratification", that would include another referendum.
The EU is set to offer guarantees that the the treaty will not affect three main areas of concern to Irish "No" voters - abortion, Irish neutrality and taxation, says the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell.
Ireland is also likely to be able to keep its EU commissioner.Ireland is also likely to be able to keep its EU commissioner.
EU leaders will pore over and work on the summit conclusions before they are published on Friday.