A decision on a date for the second Nice referendum will not be made for "a week or two", senior Fianna Fáil sources said last night. The Taoiseach is waiting until the Yes campaign is fully up and running.
The determination of Mr Ahern, to ensure that Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators campaign at full throttle for a Yes vote on Nice is reflected in a decision to hold a two-day meeting of the parliamentary party devoted exclusively to the subject.
The gathering will take place in Killarney, Co Kerry, on September 17th and 18th. The Taoiseach is planning to spell out in very clear terms the imperative of working actively for ratification of the treaty.
Individual TDs are being made "directors of elections" for the referendum in their constituencies. A list of guest speakers is being prepared for the Killarney meeting.
Earlier Ireland's European partners asked the Government to hold the Nice Treaty referendum before a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on October 24th.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, told the meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Danish port of Elsinore that he could not anticipate the Government's decision about the date. But he promised to take into account the requirements of the EU's timetable for negotiations with candidate countries.
On the timing of the second Nice poll Mr Cowen said after the meeting with his EU counterparts: "They do recognise that this is a matter for the Government. I am positively disposed to working within time frames for enlargement negotiations," Mr Cowen said. If the referendum is held before the Brussels summit, the most likely date is Friday, October 18th.
Denmark, which holds the EU Presidency, is anxious that uncertainty over the referendum should not disrupt the final phase of enlargement negotiations, which are due to be completed by the end of December.
The Enlargement Commissioner, Mr Günter Verheugen, made clear yesterday that the commission also wants the Nice issue to be resolved sooner rather than later.
"It makes it easier for us if it is before the summit. It depends on the domestic needs of the Irish and we have to respect the fact that the Irish will decide," he said.
The foreign ministers discussed the enlargement negotiations at the start of a two-day meeting in Hamlet's castle in Elsinore. Mr Cowen briefed the meeting on the work of the Forum on Europe and preparations for the referendum.He expressed confidence that the structured debate on Europe conducted at the forum has helped to clarify some of the issues surrounding the treaty.
"There is a need to recognise the nature of what enlargement is about. We have to try to communicate a sense of historical perspective as to where our interests lie."
The Minister said that each previous enlargement had benefited Ireland economically and maintained that the country is in a stronger position than ever before to exploit new markets.
"Narrow, nationalistic notions of sovereignty have no relevance in terms of improving our nation's prospects in the world we live in," he said.
Last night the Taoiseach made the latest in a series of speeches on European issues at the opening of a new centre for the performing arts in Liberty Hall, Dublin, where he stressed the need to "commit fully and wholeheartedly" to the European Union.
