IRELAND: Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny yesterday promised that a Fine Gael/Labour government would hold a referendum on the European constitution within a year of gaining power.
Speaking to the Association of European Journalists, he said he believed that other EU member states have "much to learn" from Ireland's second referendum campaign on the Nice Treaty. Though French and Dutch voters rejected the constitution, he said both campaigns were "dominated by domestic political issues.
"The real challenge now for political leaders throughout Europe is to convince people that the main purpose of the new treaty is to simplify the decision-making process within the European Union institutions . . . the ratification process should continue in the other member states. The Dutch general election will now be held in the autumn and the French national elections are due next spring."
Labour TD Michael D Higgins reacted with surprise to Mr Kenny's declaration, pointing out that no discussions to his knowledge had taken place with the Labour Party on the issue. "It would not be very realistic to hold a referendum on something if there was no likelihood of it being carried in the European Union," he said.
