'Now Irish people feel part of the European process'

EUROPE has learned a valuable lesson about consulting with its citizens from Ireland's experience of ratifying the Nice Treaty, Tánaiste Mary Harney said yesterday.

And the Taoiseach hailed the electorate for taking the historic step that paves the way for European Union enlargement.

European barriers are coming to an end with Ireland's decision to endorse the Nice Treaty, Mr Ahern said.