Ireland holds rederendum on ratification of Lisbon Treaty

Opinion polls and informal exit polls indicate that the country will say yes to the treaty - just 18 months after rejecting it in the first referendum.

The treaty, aimed at streamlining EU decision-making, cannot take effect unless all member states ratify it.

Results of the referendum are due by late afternoon.

The BBC's Johnny Dymond says indications are that the "Yes" campaign - backed by the government and most of the Irish establishment - appears to have paid off.

A considerable proportion of those voting said they had switched from "No" to "Yes" this time around, our correspondent says.

An informal exit poll by the main opposition Fine Gael party estimated a 60% "Yes" vote, Irish broadcaster RTE reported.

In last year's vote, 46.6% voted "Yes" and 53.4% "No".

Last year's rejection of the treaty by Irish voters plunged the 27-nation bloc into political gridlock.

Analysts say a "Yes" vote this time around would be a big step towards ratification.

The only other countries yet to ratify the treaty are Poland and the Czech Republic.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen - who has warned that another rejection would marginalise Ireland in Europe - was cautiously optimistic.

"The people's decision is sovereign and of course that will be the case but I'm hopeful that in the context of today... we'll have a good outcome," he said.