Those who will really make the decision don't need any affirmation from the media or academics.

True, but

Frank Schnittger:

They will be talking to prospect candidates to ensure that their concerns will be addressed.

Only partly. This is not just any job they're hiring for. This will involve a real surrender of power within the European Council. Up to now, the European Council's work was run by the head of government of the current presidency country, who was de jure a member on equal footing of the council - and respected as one who currently exercised real responsibility for her/is country. Now the European Council has to bring in someone from outside, who will not be a head of government in exercise, for a job with (potentially) considerable power. The interests of small member states, which are losing part of the attributes of the rotating presidency that they are attached to, are not necessarily, in any case, aligned with this transfer of power within the council, and much less so if the candidate comes from a big member state. So I think you're oversimplifying the game.

Anyway, though I appreciate the Irish may have reason for more pro-Blair feelings than others, I think anyone who imagines just striking a deal with Tony in which "their concerns will be addressed" has their head... in the clouds.