Bill to defer treaty referendum defeated

A bill that proposed changing the law to allow the government defer the treaty referendum has been defeated in a Dail vote - by 75 votes to 19.

A bill that proposed changing the law to allow the government defer the treaty referendum has been defeated in a Dáil vote - by 75 votes to 19.

Independent TD Shane Ross sought to introduce the bill on the grounds that Ireland should defer voting on the treaty until the French position on the pact was clear.