Ireland eyeing Lisbon Treaty referendum

BRUSSELS, July 8 (UPI) -- Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen says a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty will occur on Oct. 2.

Cowen assured residents of Ireland their concerns regarding the treaty should be eased by agreements by other European Union states on key treaty points, EUobserver said Wednesday, citing a report in the Irish Times.

"On that basis, I recommended to the government that we return to the people to seek their approval for Ireland to ratify the treaty and that referendum will take place on 2 October," Cowen said.

The Lisbon Treaty is intended to amend the Treaty on European Union and alter the inner-workings of the international organization

Ireland put the proposed treaty to referendum amid concerns the agreement would grant the European Union too much power over Ireland's laws, taxes and military.

The EUobserver said analysts have predicted a second referendum of the treaty would likely pass in Ireland in light of the ongoing worldwide economic crisis.