EU constitution – Voters must be properly informed

THE 25 EU heads of government meet in Brussels tomorrow to consider the new EU constitution. If Taoiseach Bertie Ahern secures agreement on this constitution, it will be a truly remarkable achievement by his Government.

There has been much talk about a democratic deficit in the EU, but the real deficit is in our own knowledge and the failure of successive governments to keep people properly informed about EU developments.

Much has been written in this country about the efficacy of social partnership, but that has been the norm in Europe, where they have been engaging in a thorough consultative process from which our Government could learn.