Ireland will argue for no changes to European Constitution

IRELAND will argue that no changes should be made to the European Constitution when Europe Minister Noel Treacy attends a meeting in Madrid today aimed at revising the treaty.

It coincides with the start of the German presidency efforts to devise a plan on how to breathe new life into the document all butdeclared dead 18 months ago when French and Dutch voters rejected it.

The meeting organised by Luxembourg and Spain was originally to include only the 18 countries that ratified it but the Irish insisted they should attend and Mr Treacy expects to contribute to the debate. The Germans have sent just an observer.