REFERENDUM FALLOUT:TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen will meet the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, in Brussels today to discuss the implication of the No vote to the Lisbon Treaty in advance of the EU summit at which the issue will be top of the agenda.
As well as discussing the referendum result with Mr Barroso, Mr Cowen is expected to brief some of his EU ministerial colleagues about the outcome, in advance of the two-day summit, which begins this evening.
Government sources said yesterday that Mr Cowen's objective at the summit would be to outline the scale and variety of the issues involved in the No vote, and to explain that a significant time will be required to assess the next steps. The Government's position is that it is too early to draw conclusions about the reasons for the No vote or to consider what action should be taken in response. In the meantime, the Government will respect the right of other countries to proceed with ratification of the treaty by the end of the year.
While it will take some time for solutions to emerge, a change in the plan to reduce the number of EU commissioners appears to be an area where a deal could be done in time. However, all the indications are that there is no mood for compromise by the other 26 countries on any of the other key elements of the treaty.
Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Mr Cowen said his EU colleagues wish to hear his assessment of the referendum and its implications.
"I should acknowledge though, openly and honestly, that my assessment of the rejection of the treaty in Ireland will have to be viewed alongside its approval in the majority of members states. This is the difficulty which faces Ireland and the union.
"There is no doubt in my mind that our partners tomorrow will express their strong preference to find a shared solution - something very much in the tradition of the European Union. I believe too that they will accord us the time we need to play our part in understanding last week's vote. For my part, I will impress upon them the need to avoid prejudicing the process which we must now undertake in Ireland."
He added that he would underline his commitment to engage closely with our EU partners. "I want to emphasise the need for the domestic and EU processes to proceed in tandem. For any outcome to be viable, it would not only have to be agreeable to our people, but also to all member states." Mr Cowen pointed out that disappointment at the Irish result was not universal.
"On the contrary, there are some individuals and groups across Europe who now wish to claim the Irish people as their new friends. They are headed by the likes of Jean Marie Le Pen or Nigel Farage.
"I believe that no proud Irish man or woman could but be uneasy that they rejoice in our decision. And let us be under no illusions about why they are rejoicing. It is because they believe they can use the vote of our people to serve their misguided political goals - goals that Ireland does not and never will share, goals that are inimical to our interests," he said.