McCreevy says Ireland must not be bullied by EU

EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy says there is no question of Ireland being bullied by the EU into holding a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Speaking in Dublin today, he also dismissed speculation that the other 26 EU member states will ratify the treaty and leave Ireland behind.

Mr McCreevy said it would be an outrage if the other member states did not accept the decision of the Irish people, but he said he believed they would respect the Irish outcome.

He also said he strongly suspected that other EU member states would have rejected the treaty if it was put to a vote.

Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin, meanwhile, says he will be telling his EU colleagues today that Ireland needs time to reflect on the vote and discuss the way forward.

Speaking in Luxembourg ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, he said Europe must respect the voice of the Irish people.

However, he said Ireland was in uncharted territory and the challenges and the difficulties that lie ahead should not be underestimated.