Dublin  - Lack of knowledge or understanding was the main reason Ireland voted against the European Union's Lisbon Treaty in June, Irish government research showed Wednesday.

Forty-two per cent of those surveyed gave this as their reason for voting no, according to the poll carried out on behalf of the government by Millward Brown IMS at the end of July.

"An EU knowledge deficit is clearly present which has undoubtedly contributed to the no vote," the polling company said.

One-third of those polled believed that the introduction of conscription into a European army was included in the Lisbon Treaty while the same figure thought it would affect Ireland's ban on abortion.

Other reasons given for voting no were the loss of an Irish EU commissioner and fears that the country's neutrality and corporate tax policies would be affected.

However, the survey showed that 70 per cent of Irish voters still consider the EU to be a good thing. Even 63 per cent of no voters have a positive view of the bloc.

Ireland's no vote in a June 12 referendum has thrown the EU into uncertainty. The Lisbon Treaty was aimed at reforming decision-making in the 27-member bloc but it can't come into effect until all members endorse it.

Responding to the poll results Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said that "people clearly had worries about issues that came up during the campaign ... I recognize that there are lessons here for the political system. People clearly expect to be provided with clear information when we ask them to vote in referendums."

Asked about the possibility of a rerun, Martin said that the government was "examining all options," but it is "far too early to be prescriptive about the future." (dpa)