The Irish government has reacted coolly to the French president's remark that the Republic of Ireland should hold a new referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Prime Minister Brian Cowen said there were "many views across Europe about the problems we face" after the Irish rejection of the EU treaty on 12 June.
But some France takes over EU presidency ...
UK ratifies Lisbon Treaty despite Irish rejection ...
EU ministers agree to push ahead with reform treaty ...
Brussels Gloomy as Irish Say 'No' to the EU Reform Treaty ...
Ireland holds tense referendum on Lisbon Treaty ...
Merkel Vows to Back French EU Presidency ... Irish politicians sharply criticised President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Opposition Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said the French leader had "seriously put his foot in it".
Mr Sarkozy is due to visit the Republic of Ireland on Monday to seek a way forward with the Irish government.
'Listening mode'
France currently holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency and is keen to resolve the Lisbon Treaty stumbling block before its presidency ends.
Ireland was the only one of 27 EU member states to hold a referendum on the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU institutions to improve decision-making in the enlarged bloc.
Critics see the treaty as further evidence of a federalist, pro-integration agenda at work in the EU. The treaty has to be ratified by all 27 states in order to take effect.
Mr Sarkozy was quoted as saying "the Irish will have to vote again". He was speaking to deputies from his conservative UMP party in Paris on Tuesday.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said Mr Sarkozy would be "in listening mode" during his visit to Dublin.
Mr Sarkozy's close aide Henri Guaino, speaking on France 2 television, said that asking the Irish to vote again was "one of the solutions". But in that case, he added, the text of the treaty would "probably ... not be quite the same".
He stressed that Mr Sarkozy's remark about a fresh Irish vote was "not an official statement".
(BBC)
<< Back