Taoiseach Bertie Ahern repeated that the Government would attempt to have the EU constitution ratified before the end of next year.
"For our part, we will comply with the obligation we gave at the European Council, that we will attempt to ratify the agreement before November 2006," he said.
Mr Ahern expressed hope that French voters would endorse the constitution, although he said there was little point in speculating. All sides were actively involved, and there were predictions that there would be a poll of 60 per cent to 70 per cent, which would be high by French standards, he added.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that it was obvious the French referendum campaign result would be close.
Asked by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte about the Government's position on the services directive, Mr Ahern said it had been indicated that it would not get sufficient support in its present form. "While the Government has supported the services directive in recent months, we have stated that the balance must be correct."
