Frank Millar
in London
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, is backing attempts by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to revive talks on a new EU constitution, while stressing that it must be by agreement.
And Mr Ahern has moved to dispel any impression of disagreement between Dublin and London about the state of the EU negotiation reached at the conclusion of the Italian presidency.
"Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed," was the joint message from both men yesterday after a working lunch at 10 Downing Street devoted to the Irish presidency of the European Council and the review of the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Ahern briefed Mr Blair on his initial talks with European leaders over the past three weeks, before flying back to Dublin for talks last night with the German Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer.
He said Mr Blair had been "100 per cent correct" at his recent press conference when he referred to Mr Silvio Burlusconi"s summation of the negotiations conducted during the Italian presidency.
Mr Blair cited this Italian summary to support his prediction that the most contentious areas - foreign policy, defence and taxation - would remain the responsibility of sovereign governments.
Mr Blair was questioned last Thursday about Mr Ahern's reported suggestion that any previous understandings would be irrelevant if new talks about a constitution got under way during the Irish presidency - with the so-called "red line" issues going back into "the melting pot".
Mr Blair replied: "I think people are making a little bit more of this than need be . . . I would be quite surprised if the broad understanding that we had before was overturned.
"But, of course, the Irish presidency is absolutely right; nothing is agreed until everything is agreed; the negotiation has to be agreed on all points, and I would not expect them to say anything different."
Mr Ahern yesterday drew a distinction between the documents agreed prior to the last Brussels summit and the Italian commentary. And Irish officials stressed it was these documents - and not understandings which may have been formed during the Italian presidency - which would provide the basis for the negotiation.