The Irish Government is currently playing a very cagey "need time for reflection" game and trying to keep all options open - whilst being dutifully respectful towards the electoral outcome.

Other EU Governments have toned down the early "we'll carry on without the Irish" rhetoric and seem to be willing to give Cowen some time to come up with "an Irish solution to an Irish problem" (to quote a former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey).

Coming up with a viable solution will take all of Cowen considerable political skills.  Sinn Fein and Libertas have moved fast to maximise and consolidate their gains and Sinn Fein has asked for a meeting with Cowen to discuss their views on the way forward - as if they had "ownership" of the NO vote.

At the moment the NO side need to be careful not to overplay their hand.  They don't have much of an electoral mandate yet and many NO voters are embarrassed at the company they are now keeping.

For those interested I am also participating in a blog on Timesonline where Terry and the gang are spouting their usual neo-con or Eurocceptic bile at all things EU.  

Charles Bremner has published my post criticizing the Sunday Times for refusing to publish pro-Treaty articles by it's own correspondents (whilst acknowledging privately that it is against editorial policy).  This is a small example of the problems we are going to have getting a pro-EU narrative out there.

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."