INDEPENDENT TD Finian McGrath, who campaigned strongly against the Lisbon Referendum last year, has said he is now "inclined" towards backing a 'yes' vote in the second referendum in the autumn.

McGrath told the Sunday Tribune that his "gut political instinct" was that, if the legal guarantees agreed in Brussels on Friday were delivered on, it should be seen as a victory by those who campaigned for a 'no' vote last year. "I disagree with Joe Higgins. We shouldn't be beating ourselves up. This is a major victory for the 'no' side," he said.

Asked if this "victory" in securing the guarantees meant he could then support the second Lisbon referendum, McGrath agreed that was the "logical" follow-on.

The Dublin North-East TD met with foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin early last week to discuss the Lisbon treaty and the government's intentions to address concerns on issues such as neutrality, taxation and Ireland's EU Commissioner.

The meeting, which went through the protocols "line by line", was
"very positive and constructive", McGrath said.

"I gave Micheál Martin a commitment that we would seriously look at the proposals brought back [from the European Council in Brussels]," he added.

McGrath praised Martin for being "on top of his brief" and said the minister and the Taoiseach were "out there batting in the interests of Ireland" to address the concerns raised during the 'no' vote last year.

"As a democrat and a member of the Oireachtas, I have a duty to look at the proposals very seriously," he said.

McGrath said he would be discussing the issues with his election team over the next few weeks before making a final decision on his position vis-a-vis the second Lisbon referendum