Seeking a solution to Lisbon

Interesting to meet the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin today and hear him confirm that Ireland does not consider the matter of the Lisbon Treaty to be closed. Noting that almost every other Member State has taken a sovereign decision to approve the treaty, he described what is being done in Ireland to find "the right solution within a reasonable time frame".

Overcoming a divergence of views when there is a 26-1 split is easier if the 1 rather than the 26 reconsiders. (Same if it is 25-2). But this in turn requires the other Member States to help meet the concerns of the one. Any reform of the treaty requires the approval of all Member States, so nothing can be done unless Ireland (and every other country) agrees. The Irish government is clearly up for that challenge and will seek to identify a set of demands that would make the package acceptable to Ireland.