Opposition demands Taoiseach reveal contents of Lisbon deal

FINE Gael and Labour leaders have demanded the Taoiseach tell them the elements of a deal surrounding the Lisbon treaty that is to be discussed at an EU summit in Brussels next week.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is on a whistle-stop tour of some of EU capitals consulting their prime ministers about the deal to which Ireland wants them to agree.

He met the German chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin last night after talks with the Luxembourg prime minister Jean Claude Junker. He is to meet Britain’s Gordon Brown today and meet French president Nicholas Sarkozy, who will chair the summit, next Thursday.

Fine Gael’s leader Enda Kenny said the Government should inform the opposition leaders of these elements, especially as he was briefing governments of other countries.

“We have had no consultation, good, bad or indifferent with the Government… we need to know what the Government proposes to do when the Taoiseach goes to Brussels next week to explain to the heads of state what Ireland’s strategy will be,” he said.

The Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan, said there will be a debate on Tuesday and she would let the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin know about the opposition leaders demand for a briefing.

The details of the proposed deal have not been announced, though it is expected Ireland will seek legally binding statements that neutrality and conscription, taxation and ethical issues such as abortion, are matters solely to be decided by the Government.

They are also hoping to get agreement on plans to ensure every country nominates a commissioner, contrary to the provisions of both the existing Nice and the Lisbon treaty.

This right for each country to nominate a commissioner was crucial if Irish voters were to be asked a second time to vote on the Lisbon treaty, Labour MEP for Dublin Proinsias De Rossa told the European Parliament yesterday.