Forum should not focus on new poll - De Rossa

The proposed forum on Europe must not focus on the possibility that another referendum on the Nice Treaty will have to be held next year, the Labour Party has suggested.

Proposing ideas about the forum's structure, the Labour MEP for Dublin, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, said yesterday such a move by the Government would be counterproductive after the No vote.

"A broader debate on Europe will help to clarify many of the issues that were the focus of public concern," said Mr De Rossa, who said the forum should first propose ideas for December's crucial Laeken European Union summit.

"The second phase should concentrate on enlargement and its implications and should tackle the more general agenda, that is, issues of democratic legitimacy and the role of national and European policy-making."

The leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruairi Quinn, met the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, last Friday, following earlier contacts between the Taoiseach and the leader of Fine Gael, Mr Michael Noonan.

Membership of the forum, said Mr De Rossa, should be drawn from TDs of all parties and none, from the Seanad and MEPs, while Northern Ireland parties should also be represented.

Independently chaired, it should hear submissions from the Oireachtas and MEPs, interest groups, trade unions, business, the churches, academics and think tanks.

In addition, Irish officials working with Ireland's permanent EU representation in Brussels and elsewhere should be asked to contribute ideas before public hearings in Dublin Castle.

Besides discussing the EU's future governance and enlargement, it should look at economic, social and environmental issues, Ireland's neutrality and EU common foreign and security policy.

The Fine Gael submission is still being worked on, although Mr Noonan hopes to be in a position to return to the Taoiseach with detailed proposals within the next few weeks.

Last month Mr Ahern told the Dail he hoped the forum would deal with the "misunderstandings, confusion and other matters" linked to the referendum in a more open way.

However, the apparent intention of the major parties to grant anti-EU figures, such as Mr Anthony Coughlan of the National Platform, only the right of audience and not membership of the forum, could cause problems.

The Green Party TD Mr Trevor Sargent has already complained that Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and the Progressive Democrats want to use it as a vehicle to persuade people to vote Yes.