A DETAILED survey of all 27 parliaments in the European Union shows that some regard Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty as a "deep disappointment" and as having created a backlash.
The survey was commissioned by the French presidency of the EU in the form of a questionnaire sent to all parliaments and the European Parliament. The key question asked was how each parliament had reacted to the outcome of the Irish referendum and whether it affected its position on further ratification of the treaty.
The results show a wide level of sympathy for the Irish position in the wake of the referendum result. At the same time, there is an overwhelming consensus from parliaments throughout Europe that the process of ratification must continue.
However, a number of parliaments express concern at or criticism of the Irish outcome.
The Bulgarian parliament states that it is "disappointed" with the Irish outcome, as do the parliaments of Slovakia and Slovenia.
The findings were presented at a meeting in Paris last weekend of COSAC, the body comprising European affairs committees of all parliaments. Ireland was represented by Fine Gael TDs Bernard Durkan and John Perry, and by the Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy.
Mr Mulcahy said it was now obvious the vast majority of parliaments want to go ahead with ratification and believe there is no way back from the treaty.
"It's as clear as a pikestaff that, at the end of the day, Ireland will be left with a stark choice: either ratify the treaty or join the slow-speed Europe.
"It's quite clear that the majority of our neighbours are going to proceed along the Lisbon Treaty lines. They are determined to have the institutional and constitutional developments enshrined in the EU."
The response from the German Bundestag says Ireland's rejection will create a backlash for EU reform, while stressing that ratification must continue.
A number of states which have faced significant opposition to Lisbon report either no formal position or say they have suspended their process of ratification. They include the Czech Republic and Denmark, both of which have suspended ratification, and Poland, whose parliament expresses "no formal opinion" on ratification.
However, these are the exceptions as most other parliaments confirm that they have ratified or are in the process of ratifying the treaty. There seems a very strong consensus that the treaty must come into effect, notwithstanding Ireland's difficulties.
In its response, the Belgian parliament states: "We may not exercise any pressure on Ireland nor may we stigmatise it. The result might have been the same in other countries if there would have been a referendum.
"The fear is that the European Parliament elections cannot be organised any more on the basis of the new treaty. The treaty needs to be ratified in March-May 2009."
Cyprus says it ratified the treaty in July despite the outcome of the Irish referendum.
Greece states that its parliament ratified the treaty by a large majority. "[We must conclude] that we all, not only our Irish colleagues, failed to provide the necessary information on the treaty's benefits and [failed] to widen the public discourse."
The Latvian assembly says ratification is not an option but a necessity, and Lithuania says that members of its parliament have expressed their regret about the Irish outcome at various meetings.
The Romanian assembly said that it adopted a low-key approach in reacting to the decision. "No declaration or other official document was issued to avoid adding to the tension provoked by the Irish vote and thus contribute to . . . interpretation of the situation as a crisis."
