French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that Ireland will have to vote once more on the EU treaty, in a move bound to ruffle feathers in Dublin, which has yet to say publicly how it plans to react to last month's treaty rejection. According to a report in the Irish Times, Mr Sarkozy told a meeting of deputies from his UMP party in Paris on Tuesday (15 July): "The Irish will have to vote again." Mr Sarkozy will visit Dublin next week to discuss the treaty options The phrase was repeated to journalists by several deputies leaving the meeting. The remark comes ahead of Mr Sarkozy's visit to Ireland on Monday (21 July) to discuss Ireland's options with Prime Minister Brian Cowen. Speculation has been high about the political room for manuoeuvre open to Mr Cowen since Irish voters rejected the treaty on 12 June. Most analysts suggest that Dublin will have to opt for a second vote with France and Germany, in particular, keen to get the document put in place.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that Ireland will have to vote once more on the EU treaty, in a move bound to ruffle feathers in Dublin, which has yet to say publicly how it plans to react to last month's treaty rejection.
According to a report in the Irish Times, Mr Sarkozy told a meeting of deputies from his UMP party in Paris on Tuesday (15 July): "The Irish will have to vote again."
Mr Sarkozy will visit Dublin next week to discuss the treaty options
The phrase was repeated to journalists by several deputies leaving the meeting.
The remark comes ahead of Mr Sarkozy's visit to Ireland on Monday (21 July) to discuss Ireland's options with Prime Minister Brian Cowen.
Speculation has been high about the political room for manuoeuvre open to Mr Cowen since Irish voters rejected the treaty on 12 June. Most analysts suggest that Dublin will have to opt for a second vote with France and Germany, in particular, keen to get the document put in place.
The Irish government has reacted coolly to the French president's remark that the Republic of Ireland should hold a new referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Prime Minister Brian Cowen said there were "many views across Europe about the problems we face" after the Irish rejection of the EU treaty on 12 June. But some Irish politicians sharply criticised President Nicolas Sarkozy. Opposition Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said the French leader had "seriously put his foot in it". Mr Sarkozy is due to visit the Republic of Ireland on Monday to seek a way forward with the Irish government.
The Irish government has reacted coolly to the French president's remark that the Republic of Ireland should hold a new referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Prime Minister Brian Cowen said there were "many views across Europe about the problems we face" after the Irish rejection of the EU treaty on 12 June.
But some Irish politicians sharply criticised President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Opposition Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said the French leader had "seriously put his foot in it".
Mr Sarkozy is due to visit the Republic of Ireland on Monday to seek a way forward with the Irish government.
DUBLIN: Ireland on Wednesday rebuffed a French suggestion that it hold a second referendum on the European Union treaty, which was rejected by its voters last month. The Irish Times newspaper described "quiet fury" in the government after President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said Tuesday that Ireland would have to hold a second vote on the pact intended to overhaul EU institutions. The no vote in Ireland plunged the EU into crisis because the treaty - envisioned as a replacement for a proposed constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 - cannot come into force until it has been ratified by all member states. "It is far, far too early to be talking about a referendum or about some specific policy to go forward," the European affairs minister, Dick Roche, told Newstalk radio. He said that "rash" proposals were "not helpful."
DUBLIN: Ireland on Wednesday rebuffed a French suggestion that it hold a second referendum on the European Union treaty, which was rejected by its voters last month.
The Irish Times newspaper described "quiet fury" in the government after President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said Tuesday that Ireland would have to hold a second vote on the pact intended to overhaul EU institutions.
The no vote in Ireland plunged the EU into crisis because the treaty - envisioned as a replacement for a proposed constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 - cannot come into force until it has been ratified by all member states.
"It is far, far too early to be talking about a referendum or about some specific policy to go forward," the European affairs minister, Dick Roche, told Newstalk radio. He said that "rash" proposals were "not helpful."
Thanks, Sarko! You just finished off Lisbon.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reportedly scrapped plans to hold a public meeting in Ireland with opponents of the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Sarkozy was understood to be planning the event when he visits Ireland next Monday. However, reports this morning say the plans have been abandoned due to "nervousness" on the French side.
Mr Sarkozy was understood to be planning the event when he visits Ireland next Monday.
However, reports this morning say the plans have been abandoned due to "nervousness" on the French side.
