CONFUSION EXISTS over whether the Dáil will now be recalled in early September from its summer recess to establish an all-party body on the Lisbon Treaty.
Fine Gael and Labour say they have heard nothing further about proposals from the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, who had contacted the party leaders and wrote to them about the possibility of establishing a committee to help plan the way forward after the electorate rejected the treaty in June.
Both of the main Opposition parties have pointed out that there is already a European Affairs committee in place.
Mr Martin is currently on holidays. The Government Chief Whip's office, which orders Dáil business, said yesterday that "nothing is decided".
There appears to be a distinct cooling about the idea of an early recall on September 3rd, although it has not been formally ruled out.
One source suggested it meant the Government could tell the European Council it had established a committee. "The Minister looks like he's doing something, but it serves no purpose."
Mr Martin initially contacted the Opposition leaders two weeks ago about establishing an all-party body and invited their views on how it should proceed and formally wrote and set out proposals for dealing with the implications of the result. A Fine Gael spokesman said the party is awaiting a response from the Minister.
