Ireland Will Get to Vote on Eu Treaty

Ireland will get a chance to endorse or reject the controversial new European Union constitution.

A referendum on Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's grand project for EU unity will be held in the Irish Republic within the next 18 months, The Observer has learnt.

Last night the Tories described Tony Blair's opposition to a similar referendum in Britain as 'a total absurdity', given that Ireland is the only nation with a land border with the UK.

Senior Irish government sources told The Observer that it was 'very likely' that the Republic would have to hold a referendum on any new EU constitution.

'Under our own constitution there is a requirement that any international treaty that affects sovereignty must be put to the people. Even if the current government decided not to hold a referendum an ordinary citizen could go to the Supreme Court in Dublin and force the state to have the poll by using the 1936 Constitution.

'It will be up to the Attorney General to decide if any new treaty supersedes all others Ireland has endorsed. But even before he makes that call it is very likely that there will have to be a referendum, either this time next year or within 18 months,' a senior Dublin source said.

The Irish government, like Britain, has its own concerns about the draft European constitution.

Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach, like Tony Blair, will oppose any move to harmonise taxation and allow European votes to set Irish tax levels.

The Republic's government is also worried about the loss of Irish influence inside the EU. They fear that the Giscard plan would entail the loss of an Irish EU Commissioner and the end of the rotating Presidency. Ireland takes on the EU Presidency next year - just in time for the Intergovernmental Conference that will determine Europe's future. Ireland like Britain will also fight to preserve the 'Anglo-Saxon' system of justice in both states and oppose any attempt to impose French style Napoleonic legal codes.

Quentin Davies, the Conservative Party's Northern Ireland spokesman, said it was 'patently absurd' that while Britain's nearest neighbour will have a referendum, the UK will not.

'You will have the bizarre situation where someone living a few hundred yards from the border on the north side won't be allowed a say in their future and Europe while close by other EU citizens will have the right to vote. Of course Ireland is constitutionally bound to have a referendum but nonetheless it points out the absurdity of the Prime Minister's position.

'Even more absurd is the fact that Irish citizens residing in London, Liverpool and Birmingham who are still on the Republic's electoral register can go across and vote on Europe's future. Whereas their neighbours in these same English cities won't be able to thanks to Mr Blair,' Davies added.

The main parties in the Republic will urge a Yes vote on the new treaty although they will have worries about the preservation of Irish neutrality and the concentration of power in the hands of bigger states like France and Germany.

Pro-European Fianna Fail TD Barry Andrews sounded a cautious note when asked if the Irish people were likely to endorse the proposed new EU constitution.

'If there is an economic downturn then some voters might use the next referendum to punish the government. I am a great believer in the European ideal and the Irish people are pro-Europe. But we are going to have to sell this new treaty vigorously,' Andrews said.

Most Unionist MPs are aligned with the Tories in their opposition to a new EU constitution. The UUP and DUP also back demands for a referendum in the UK.