EU referendum optimists are only fooling themselves at this stage

THE prospects for the EU constitution will be weighing on Bertie Ahern’s mind over the next week and on this - as on many issues - he will be conflicted.

This time last year he was in the chair of the European Council meeting in Brussels and he skilfully shepherded his colleagues to agree a final text for the constitution. It was the crowning achievement of a successful Irish presidency.

This day next week Bertie Ahern will meet with his fellow heads of government again at a European Council meeting, but this time in very different circumstances after the No votes in France and the Netherlands.