Irish PM to pledge new EU referendum

Ireland's Prime Minister will tell EU leaders on Thursday that he will hold a second referendum on the bloc's stalled reform treaty next year, but will stop short of setting a date, diplomats said.

Ireland's rejection of the treaty - a successor to the defunct EU Constitution and aimed at easing decision-making in Brussels - has slowed integration efforts just as EU backers say the 27-country bloc needs to show it is capable of quick and coordinated action to tackle a financial crisis.

Diplomats said a deal had been struck between Ireland, EU president France and EU legal services in Brussels under which the Lisbon Treaty - assuming a "Yes" vote second time around - should enter into force by January 2010.

"The only date that will be mentioned will be January 2010," one diplomat told Reuters.

"We do not expect Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen to name a date for the referendum because that will be a political decision for him, and only him, to make."

Ireland's Foreign Minister signalled Dublin would present a solution to the current stalemate at the December 11-12 summit.

"There are 27 countries involved and it will go to the wire next week," Micheál Martin told public broadcaster RTE. "Hopefully we can be in a position to resolve this Thursday or Friday but it is not certain."

As part of the deal, Dublin will retain the right to name an EU commissioner - a major concession to appease Irish voters who rejected the treaty in June. Under the treaty, the number of commissioners is to be capped at two-thirds the number of member states, each of whom currently appoint a candidate to the post.