In his statement at Gothenburg on the outcome of the referendum on the Nice Treaty the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said:
I am grateful for this opportunity to brief you on the outcome of last week's referendum in Ireland on the Treaty of Nice.
Ratification of the treaty by Ireland requires an enabling amendment of our Constitution, and it was on this that the people voted. This was the fifth referendum to be held in Ireland on a European matter since 1972.
The previous four referendums, on Ireland's accession, on the Single European Act, and on the Treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam, all passed comfortably, even if the margin of success had been gradually declining.
On this occasion, as you know, the referendum was defeated by 54 per cent to 46 per cent. Of our 41 parliamentary constituencies, 39 voted against. The overall turnout was just below 35 per cent of the total electorate - by some way the lowest in any EU referendum to date.
My Government and I were, naturally, profoundly disappointed by the result. We have consistently argued to the public:
that the ratification of the Treaty of Nice is necessary for the enlargement of the union;
that enlargement is not alone an historic duty but a major opportunity, for the existing members of the union as well as for the candidate countries; and
that the changes included in the treaty, which was a hard fought compromise, did not in any way affect Ireland's basic interests or threaten our values.
While regretting it, at the same time we fully respect the democratic legitimacy of the people's decision.
I want to make it absolutely clear that, in my view, the No vote should not be interpreted as a vote against enlargement.
Indeed, most of the leading No campaigners were at pains to say that they supported enlargements, and this has since been repeated by them. During the week, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been personally reassuring his colleagues in the applicant countries that Ireland remains fully committed to enlargement and to the successful conclusion of the accession negotiations. Today, I wish solemnly to reiterate that pledge.
It is now necessary for us to reflect carefully and patiently on how to move on from here. In that I ask for the support of you and your governments. My Government very much appreciates your readiness, as expressed in Luxembourg on Monday, to contribute in every possible way to help us to find a way forward, taking into account the concerns reflected by the result of the referendum.
I believe it would be premature today for me to begin to discuss how specifically the difficult situation in which we now find ourselves might be resolved. As I said, we genuinely need, at the national level, an extended period of reflection. I have announced the establishment of a National Forum on Europe.
I hope this will allow for more systematic and extensive debate on the European Union and its future direction than has ever before proved possible. There are also important questions to be considered regarding how our national Parliament scrutinises EU business.
Nevertheless, I believe it is already apparent that many of the concerns, anxieties and uncertainties which led to the result - and, indeed, to the very high level of abstentions - go well beyond the terms of the treaty itself.
The result of our referendum graphically underscores what I believe all of us around this table already know: that there is, unfortunately, a widespread sense of disconnection between the institutions of the union and its citizens.
There is frustration at what is sometimes seen as an absence of clarity, openness and responsiveness in how the union goes about its business. There is a real and urgent need to focus on how we can make the union more meaningful to our citizens and on how its democratic accountability can be strengthened. I personally feel very strongly about this.
I know that it is easier to diagnose the problem than to prescribe widely acceptable remedies.
I also know that there are very many misconceptions and misunderstandings which unjustly shape popular perceptions of the union. Nonetheless, it is vital that this dimension be kept at the forefront of our thinking throughout the entire forthcoming debate on the future of the union.
In conclusion, I want to thank each of you personally for your understanding. The Irish Government is determined to work with you to find a mutually acceptable way forward which will help lead to the outcome all of us are committed to achieving, namely a successful enlargement of the union.