We’re in no position to dictate to others

IT WAS reported recently that Patricia McKenna has called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to demand a halt to the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty by other member states, in the same way that the EU constitution was stalled immediately after the French and Dutch referendum defeats.

Firstly, it is entirely incorrect to say the EU constitution ground to a halt after the French and Dutch rebuffs.

In fact, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg and Belgium continued their ratification procedures to their conclusion, with the Belgians finally ratifying the constitution in February 2006, a full eight months after the referendum defeats.