Constitution offers chance to force EU referendum

The Government faces fresh headaches over the treaty on EU fiscal union amid efforts to force a referendum via a little- known constitutional tool.

Independent TDs will seek to petition President Michael D Higgins to order a nationwide poll if they can gain the necessary Oireachtas support.

They hope to invoke Article 27 of the Constitution which allows the President to trigger a referendum if a majority of the Seanad and one third of the Dáil support it.