Increasing Support for Lisbon Treaty in Ireland

Nearly 60% of Ireland expects that the referendum will pass, and 61% are concerned that Ireland will lose its status in Europe otherwise.

Most Irish citizens expect that the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty will be positive, showed a new public opinion poll, whose results were reported by European media on Monday.

Nearly 60 percent of Irish citizens questioned said for the Lansdowne agency that they expect that the second referendum will pass, and 61 percent are concerned that Ireland will lose their status in Europe if they do not pass the referendum.

Irish citizens rejected the Lisbon Treaty on June 12, 2008.

The Irish consider that their cabinet is leading the economy poorly

The second referendum should be held later this year, after the Irish cabinet ensures the legally binding guarantees that they consider to be key, like neutrality and taxation.

Nearly three quarters of Irish citizens consider that the Irish cabinet is leading the economy poorly, compared to 63 percent in September.

Ireland was the first Eurozone country to enter a recession last year.

Most Irish citizens, 56 percent of them, expect that the cabinet, whose mandate lasts until 2012, will be forced to hold general elections this year.

The poll was carried out on one thousand people between January 12 and 23.