Pressure builds to hold referendum

Pressure for a referendum on an EU fiscal union deal has been intensified by the opposition.

With clear signals from the Government that it hopes to avoid a potentially divisive national poll on the issue if it can, Sinn Féin made it clear it would challenge such a move in the courts.

Fianna Fáil also stressed that its support for a deal could not be taken for granted in advance of an examination of the details of the package.