British Conservative Party leader David Cameron was urged today to stop “plotting” with the Czech Republic to block the Lisbon treaty in the wake of the apparent Irish 'Yes' referendum vote.

THE new European Parliament kicked off its five-year term during the week, a term during which it will either grow up and become a properly democratic institution, or continue to languish in the twilight world the member states have created for it.

THE Czech prime minister got a tongue-lashing from members of the European Parliament yesterday when he told them the Lisbon treaty was worse than the Nice treaty and would not pass in his country.

MEMBERS of the European Parliament were divided over whether to encourage Ireland to ratify the Lisbon treaty in time for next June’s elections.

DISAPPOINTMENT and shock were the reactions from European leaders to Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty while groups opposed to it were delighted and demanding a complete re-negotiation of the deal.

IRELAND may have voted against the Lisbon treaty but the very clear message from the EU member states was that the treaty is not dead yet.

THERE were doubles for riders Benny Walsh and Ross O’Sullivan at the rescheduled Kildare Hunt point-to-point fixture at Punchestown racecourse yesterday.

I WISH to rebut the accusation of inaccuracy levelled at me by Alan Murphy-Reeve whose argument is with the EU presidency, not with me (Letters, February 26).

FREQUENTLY, when John Murphy saddles a winner it is a decent price and he did it again at Clonmel last night when 20-1 shot Dead Level took the Hard Paddock Handicap Chase.

OH SO LIVELY, winner of the race last year, did the business again in the David O'Meara and Sons Handicap Chase at Cork yesterday.

WITH stable jockey Michael Kinane and his understudy Fran Berry on duty at the Royal Ascot meeting at York, Curragh trainer John Oxx relied on Jason Behan to deliver on Tarkesar in the Summerhill Maiden at Gowran Park last night.

JOHN THOMAS McNAMARA, who received widespread acclaim for his Cheltenham success on Spot Thedifference, was again seen at his strongest when winning the Garryrichard Stud Tertratema Cup yesterday on 8/1 shot Good Step.

Europe’s political crisis should end today with a final vote of approval for the new, improved, team of commissioners in Brussels.

Lithuania’s lightning-quick ratification of the new EU constitution today puts older EU member states to shame, British Liberal Democrat MEP Andrew Duff said today.