Early returns show solid Irish `yes' to EU treaty

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin says Ireland has delivered "a convincing win" for the European Union's reform treaty as the votes are counted, AP reported.

Martin says the "yes" vote is running about 60 percent nationwide for the EU Lisbon Treaty.

"I'm absolutely delighted for the country. It looks like a convincing win on this occasion," he says. "It's good for Ireland, because I do passionately believe our future is in the European Union and there was no real reason to vote no."

Official results come later Saturday.

Ireland's June 2008 rejection threatened to derail the EU's painstakingly negotiated plans to modernize its institutions, but the Irish agreed to stage a second vote.