Ahern reveals wording of new Nice referendum

The Government is today announcing the wording for a new referendum to secure electoral approval for the Treaty of Nice plan to expand the European Union.

The move follows agreement by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and his cabinet earlier this week of the terms for a plebiscite to overturn last year’s rejection of the treaty in a nationwide vote.

Before detailing the proposal, Mr Ahern is set to issue a strong plea for referendum support at a session in Dublin of the Forum of Europe.

The forum was appointed by the government to ensure better information about EU affairs in the wake of the shock poll setback.

Mr Ahern and his ministers - launching a determined bid to secure a Yes vote when the new vote is staged in late October - were also due today to confirm the establishment of a parliamentary European Affairs committee.

The new body is to be given powers permitting it to examine and fully analyse all planned EU legislation before it is enacted - and recommend any changes considered necessary.

Last week, Mr Ahern succeeded in getting a declaration from fellow EU leaders, affirming Ireland’s status of military neutrality in a new-look bigger community.

Neutrality proved a key issue in campaigning that led to last year’s refusal to accept the Nice Treaty.

Today’s developments follow last night’s warning by Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen that the fate of EU expansion to 25 member states was now in Ireland’s hands.

Mr Rasmussen, who takes over the EU presidency next Monday, said another Irish No vote would throw the whole project into doubt.

Speaking in Copenhagen, he declared that if the referendum again went the wrong way, it would be ‘‘a political disaster, and the judgment of posterity will be severe’’.

He added: ‘‘A new No will jeopardise the whole enlargement process. We arereally facing a big problem if the Nice Treaty is not ratified.’’

Mr Rasmussen insisted that the Danish EU presidency had no ‘‘plan B’’ in case of another Irish No vote.