Brussels, 27/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The all-party Oireachtas sub-committee on the future of the country within the EU, which was set in place in September to discuss how to follow up the Irish no-vote to the Lisbon Treaty, published its final report on Thursday 27 November. The sub-committee above all considers there is no legal obstacle to holding another referendum “either on precisely the same issue as that dealt with on June 12th or some variation thereof”. The report also notes that the negotiating power and standing of Ireland in the EU - which are already finite - have diminished further since the treaty was rejected. It will therefore be even more difficult for the country to defend its national interests in major negotiations to come, especially on the energy/climate package, the financial crisis and reform of Common Agriculture Policy, the report states. “Ireland's best interest is served by being at the heart of Europe”, the chairman of the committee, Paschal Donohoe, concluded. Without putting any formal recommendations to the Irish government, the report highlights the possibility of holding a second referendum after “guarantees” have been added to the treaty (in the form of statements) in order to reassure the Irish on the subject of neutrality, taxation and abortion. Also, the 27 could decide that each country will keep “its” commissioner, the report stresses (Ed.: this possibility is in fact foreseen in the Lisbon Treaty). The Irish government welcomed the report's conclusions. (H.B./transl.jl)