UKIP threatens action over Irish concessions on Lisbon treaty

The UK Independence Party is considering mounting a challenge to the legal guarantees won by Ireland over the stalled Lisbon treaty.

Irish premier Brian Cowen won the guarantees from his EU partners last month to address concerns of voters who last June opposed the treaty, designed to streamline EU decision-making and give the 27-nation EU a greater say in world affairs.

But UKIP questions whether the guarantees on issues such as Ireland’s military neutrality and abortion are legally binding.

It has hired a leading Dublin law firm to look into the matter, saying that it could seek a judicial review.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage, whose party opposes the treaty, told this website, “Our understanding is that the so-called guarantees the Irish ‘won’ are not worth the paper they are written on. But we need to legal advice on this before what, if any, further action to take.”

The move comes after it emerged that the second Irish referendum on the treaty will be held on 2 October.

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