The Irish government is expected to bow to Franco-German pressure and hold a second referendum to try to rescue the Lisbon treaty that voters rejected this month. The plan for a possible new vote in Ireland, disclosed privately by ministers in Dublin, will be greeted with outrage by opponents of the treaty in Britain.
The Irish government believes that it may be able to rescue the treaty if it can secure concessions on a list of issues. “A yes vote can be achieved if the Irish people are offered guarantees on issues like defence and taxation,” said one senior Irish official. “The no campaign will be picked off one by one. Everyone has a price.”