Ahern blames Blair in row over opt-out

THE Taoiseach yesterday confirmed that the Government had sought no opt-out from the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights and laid the blame for any confusion on the issue at the door of his “good friend and smart colleague” Tony Blair.

Last week it was claimed the Government had investigated the possibility of an Irish opt-out from the charter, which upholds such values as the right to freedom of speech and thought, and equality before the law.

As a result of that, on Tuesday the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said it would ask its 650,000 members to campaign for a “no” in the referendum on the new EU treaty if the Government did not completely divorce itself from any opt-out clause.