Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

We have. Our embassies have been working on this issue right across the capitals of the European Union and further afield. There is quite a degree of goodwill towards Ireland from Governments, business leaders and potential investors. There has been some very strong, positive feedback from that. The diplomatic initiative is working on a number of levels through embassies, Ministers attending European Council meetings and engaging with others. We have a programme of bilateral discussions which we will have with member states. Early next week I will meet the EU ambassadors who are located here to brief them and update them on the situation.

On a referendum, as Deputy MacLochlainn will be away the advice of the Attorney General is not new. The European treaty provides for a mechanism whereby changes can be made to it. There is a simplified revision procedure which does not expand the competence of the European Union. The establishment of the European stability mechanism is something that applies to the eurozone. The previous Attorney General had advised that a referendum was not required. Now that the text has been finally settled by the European Council, the current Attorney General has been asked to advise the Government on the ratification procedure.

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