Kennedy says Taoiseach should rebuke McDowell

Former Cabinet minister Michael O'Kennedy (Fianna Fail, Tipperary North) was ruled out of order in the Dail yesterday when he called on the Taoiseach to advise the Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, that his mandatory and exclusive role was to advise the Government, "and nothing else".

Mr O'Kennedy's outburst followed similar remarks from the leaders of the two main Opposition parties during an Order of Business debate.

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he had received prior notice of the Minister for Finance's widely reported remarks on the Nice Treaty, in Gothenburg - and similarly, the Attorney General's controversial address at the Institute of European Affairs in Dublin.

Mr Noonan thought it bizarre, he said, that in Gothenburg the Taoiseach was getting more support from the Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, and himself than his own Minister.

He had looked carefully at what the Minister for Finance had said, Mr Ahern replied. Mr McCreevy had said due regard must be paid to the outcome of the referendum. His support for the Nice Treaty and the enlargement of the union was beyond question. The Minister for Finance had indicated that "some aspects would work against us", for example the broad economic guidelines, the Taoiseach added. That matter had been raised at a press conference.

As regards Mr McDowell, "I don't see the Attorney General's speeches in advance". The Attorney General had been speaking to members of the European lawyers' group: "He emphasised his commitment to ratification of the Nice Treaty many times."

The Labour Party leader, Mr Quinn said the Taoiseach's position and the strategic importance of the Nice Treaty for Europe, had been "deliberately undermined" in Gothenburg by the Minister for Finance.

Mr Quinn also asked when the Government would establish a forum on the Nice Treaty and what shape it would have.

"I already have a team working on the draft terms of reference," the Taoiseach replied, which would be circulated as soon as possible.

Three essential areas would be reviewed by the forum. They included: Nice Treaty and enlargement, the future of Europe debate, and "in the middle", said the Taoiseach, the question of consensus and support for Nice among the Irish people "in a wider way" would be explored.

In reply to Mr Noonan, the Taoiseach said the new forum would not require legislation. The Fine Gael leader had also inquired whether the political parties from Northern Ireland would participate, given their direct experience of the Peace and Reconciliation Forum. There would be some participation from the North's political parties, the Taoiseach said, on the future of Europe.

The Taoiseach dealt briefly with his trip to Gothenburg, which he will deal with more fully tomorrow, he said. He and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen had explained and clarified the issues at European Council level - and in separate interviews with the media of the "applicant countries", he said.

They had persuaded the social partners that the Irish people were not voting against enlargement of the European Union.