Irish EU Constitution referendum confirmed

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Ireland will hold a referendum on the EU Constitution.

Minister Dermot Ahern says the treaty can be salvaged if French and Dutch voters are asked to think again.

Mr Ahern said EU leaders should discuss what could be changed in the treaty to ensure that it is ratified, without renegotiating the entire document.

Meanwhile, Britian's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said certain elements of the Constitution could be introduced without a referendum in the UK.