Dublin: Sarkozy's proposal immature

Ireland has today dismissed as "immature" French President Nicolas Sarkozy's call for a new Lisbon Treaty referendum. The voters in Ireland rejected the treaty at the end of June. The Irish No threw the EU into a fresh crisis, after a proposed constitution of this organization was rejected by France and Denmark in 2005. Dublin: Sarkozy's proposal immature The Lisbon agreement can only come into force if ratified by all member states. Ireland was the only of the 27 EU countries that allowed her voters to have a say in the matter in a referendum. Today, the Irish Times says that Prime Minister Brian Cowen has played down Sarkozy's assertion that Ireland would have to hold a second referendum. Speaking in New York where he is on an official visit, Cowen said "we had to acknowledge that there were many views across Europe about the problems we face after the rejection of the measure." During a meeting with deputies from his UMP party at his office in Paris yesterday, Sarkozy, according to quotes from a number of those in attendance, said: “The Irish will have to vote again”, the paper said on its website. "What I am detecting is certainly a degree of puzzlement as to how Ireland goes forward but an anxiety not to make difficulties for Ireland and that we don't have a two-tier Europe which would disadvantage Ireland," Irish Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche said today. "We are going to analyse very carefully what the Irish people have said. They have made a very clear decision on this issue - that has to be respected but we have to understand what it is saying to us as policymakers," he added. Yesterday, the Irish Times reported that political parties in that country reacted angrily to the Sarkozy comments. Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said he couldn't comment on the reported remarks, adding that the government in Dublin was "examining all the options" after voters rejected the Lisbon treaty last month. But Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said if reports about Sarkozy's comments were correct, the French president "has seriously put his foot in it". "These remarks are particularly unhelpful coming as they do only days before he is due in this country. We were given to understand that one of the principal reasons for the president's visit to Ireland next week was to allow him to hear the views of Irish people as to what should now be done. However, if he has already made his mind up on this issue, it will be a rather hollow listening." Gilmore added: "We need that time and space and President Sarkozy should be told that in blunt terms." Sinn Fein described Sarkozy’s comment as “deeply insulting to the Irish people”. The Irish MEPs seen last month (FoNet)

Dublin: Sarkozy's proposal immature

The Lisbon agreement can only come into force if ratified by all member states. Ireland was the only of the 27 EU countries that allowed her voters to have a say in the matter in a referendum.

Today, the Irish Times says that Prime Minister Brian Cowen has played down Sarkozy's assertion that Ireland would have to hold a second referendum.

Speaking in New York where he is on an official visit, Cowen said "we had to acknowledge that there were many views across Europe about the problems we face after the rejection of the measure."

During a meeting with deputies from his UMP party at his office in Paris yesterday, Sarkozy, according to quotes from a number of those in attendance, said: “The Irish will have to vote again”, the paper said on its website.

"What I am detecting is certainly a degree of puzzlement as to how Ireland goes forward but an anxiety not to make difficulties for Ireland and that we don't have a two-tier Europe which would disadvantage Ireland," Irish Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche said today.

"We are going to analyse very carefully what the Irish people have said. They have made a very clear decision on this issue - that has to be respected but we have to understand what it is saying to us as policymakers," he added.

Yesterday, the Irish Times reported that political parties in that country reacted angrily to the Sarkozy comments.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said he couldn't comment on the reported remarks, adding that the government in Dublin was "examining all the options" after voters rejected the Lisbon treaty last month.

But Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said if reports about Sarkozy's comments were correct, the French president "has seriously put his foot in it".

"These remarks are particularly unhelpful coming as they do only days before he is due in this country. We were given to understand that one of the principal reasons for the president's visit to Ireland next week was to allow him to hear the views of Irish people as to what should now be done. However, if he has already made his mind up on this issue, it will be a rather hollow listening."

Gilmore added: "We need that time and space and President Sarkozy should be told that in blunt terms."

Sinn Fein described Sarkozy’s comment as “deeply insulting to the Irish people”.