Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Does the Taoiseach agree it is too soon to rush to conclusions on what the decision means for what is required to move things forward? Does he have any plans to put in place a process by which the opinions of people who voted last Thursday can be ascertained in order to ratify a different treaty? How does he see the future panning out? I accept his point that each country will proceed to make its own decision and just as we would not wish them to tell us what to do, we are not telling them how to ratify it either. That is a matter for each individual country. However, if the other 26 member states proceed to ratify the treaty, how does he see that playing out? Is he assured by the fact the Minister for Foreign Affairs was told yesterday that the other 26 countries would not proceed without Ireland, and that a way will be found where all 27 member states will move together? There does not seem to be as many takers for the early idea of a two-speed arrangement.

Does the Taoiseach accept that the decision was made last Thursday and it is not possible to put the same proposition to the people a second time? When he addresses his colleagues on Friday, what answer will he give them to those questions?

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