The Honorable Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland addressed the second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the impact the European Union has had on Ireland, and the significance of the Treaty for the transatlantic relationship. He highlighted the importance of climate change, energy security and the economy as key global issues the European Union continues to tackle. Underlining the need for a coherent European voice to drive global policy on critical matters, he noted that the European Union is an evolutionary process and that now is the time for the EU to emerge with a unified vision for progress.