Ahern to explain Nice rejection to summit

The Taoiseach must today explain Ireland's rejection of the Nice Treaty to his EU colleagues at the start of the EU summit proper in Gothenburg.

Bertie Ahern is expected to tell other member states that Ireland is committed to enlargement despite the No vote.

Speaking in Gothenburg, Mr Ahern said that while the vote had placed Ireland in something of a dilemma, a way would have to be found to deal with the problem.

"We made it very clear in the Dail the other day that we're totally for enlargement and Nice was only about enlargement, so now we have to try and find a way around that," he said.