There will be 'no bulldozing' Irish, says Miliband
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for a calm response to Ireland's 'No' vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum. Picture: Brendan Hoffman, Getty Images
Tuesday June 17 2008
BRITISH Foreign Secretary David Miliband yesterday called for Ireland to be given time to decide what to do after the rejection of a new EU treaty.
"We should respond in a calm way, in a respectful way, in a way which gives the Irish Government space," he said at talks between EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
The meeting was the first formal gathering to assess the fallout from the referendum 'No' vote.
Mr Miliband said Europe now faced a test in how it responded: "Today is the first chance for us to listen to the Irish foreign minister, to hear his preliminary assessment. That will then continue at the European Council on Thursday and Friday, so I think listening is the order of the day at the moment.''
Mr Miliband insisted that the UK was right to carry on with its own approval process for the treaty.
"Every country needs to take its own view. We have a sovereign, democratically elected parliament. We are 95pc of the way through (treaty ratification) and it would be a bizarre situation for every country in Europe to take a view on the Lisbon Treaty and for the UK not to do so. It's important the British position is not in limbo."
Motive
He went on: "The treaty needs the assent of all 27 countries to come into force -- that is written in black and white. We must give the Irish space. They have said they need time to analyse the result and the motive behind it. I think it's right that we give them that time. I know this is a world where instant answers are often desired, but calm heads should prevail.''
Mr Miliband spoke with Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin over the weekend and yesterday Mr Martin gave his first formal report on the debacle in Luxembourg.
"There will be no bulldozing of the Irish Government or of the Irish people. It's important that the Irish Government are able to find their own way."
Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to address the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday.
- Geoff Meade
