John O'Brennan - Scholarly Publications

Scholarly Publications

In addition to contributing articles to international political science journal such as the Cambridge Review of International Affairs, European Political Science, Global Society, the Journal of European Integration, O' Brennan is the author of two books about the European Union. The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union examines the normative and institutional foundations of the EU's enlargement policy and the practical politics which characterised the negotiations for the eastern expansion round. National Parliaments within the Enlarged European Union (co-edited with Professor Tapio Raunio) was published in 2007.

O' Brennan has also been an active contributor to debates on Ireland's relationship with the European Union and the problems presented by the failure of the 2008 Lisbon Treaty referendum. In October 2008 the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels published his article on possible routes to ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. O' Brennan argues that the Irish Government has little option but to hold a second referendum, and although there remains the possibility of Ireland gaining legal opt-outs from some aspects of the Lisbon Treaty, the better option would be to hold a second referendum on the simple question of whether Ireland remains a member state of the EU or departs voluntarily.