Kenny bids to avoid euro referendum

ENDA KENNY is desperately trying to avoid a divisive euro referendum being forced on voters next spring after a crunch deal threatened to split the EU in two.

Following what the Taoiseach described as an “exhausting” round of tense, all-night negotiations, he warned that the Attorney General would need to rule if the final wording triggered a constitutional poll.

In a historic shift, Britain has been left isolated as it is expected the other 26 EU members will push ahead with imposing tighter fiscal controls on budgets and deficits under a fiscal union.