Fine Gael want Dail debate on Nice

Fine Gael is demanding a Dail debate on the aftermath of the vote on the Nice Treaty.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Jim O’Keeffe says such a debate would provide the Dail with an opportunity to hold the Government to account for their failure to convince the electorate to endorse the treaty.

A motion, which Fine Gael intends placing before the house, will also ask why all ministers did not support the treaty. The Government will be asked to set out its next course of action.

Earlier Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was playing down the decision of Minister of State Eamon O’Cuiv to vote against the treaty.

Mr Ahern pointed out that at no stage did Mr O’Cuiv go against Government policy and this must have made it particularly difficult given that he was supporting a no vote.