One reason Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty lay in concerns that Ireland’s voice and representation within EU institutions would be eroded, in particular through the periodic loss of Irish representation on the European Commission. As a first step toward convening a second poll, Cowen has sought EU-wide agreement that, rather than reducing the size of the Commission, the provision of the Lisbon Treaty that allows for a “one member state, one commissioner” rule will be enacted, allowing Ireland to retain a permanent place.