THE CABINET has approved a wording for the Lisbon Treaty referendum that will continue the constitutional prohibition on Irish participation in an EU common defence arrangement, and give the Oireachtas a stronger role in EU legislation.
The Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, which was agreed by the Government yesterday, will be published next Tuesday by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, it was understood last night.
The decision came as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern indicated that the referendum was now likely to be held in June. Speaking in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, last night, Mr Ahern rejected suggestions that the upcoming referendum will become a vote of confidence in his leadership.
Insisting that his Mahon tribunal appearances are not being raised with him by the public, Mr Ahern said: "That's not a question I get, even though I get enough of questions elsewhere about it."
Up to now, it had been understood that the Government wanted the referendum held on May 29th, so that it would be finished before the beginning of the French EU presidency in mid-June.
Indicating that this timetable may slip a little, Mr Ahern said the referendum would "probably" be in June, though a final decision had not yet been taken on the issue.
In the Dáil yesterday, Tánaiste Brian Cowen said the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, is already preparing for the formation of the referendum commission.
Once the Bill is published, Mr Gormley will contact the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, to ask him to nominate a senior serving or retired judge to head the body.
Rejecting charges from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny that the campaign could turn into a referendum on his leadership, Mr Ahern said: "I don't think that will be the case, because obviously in the Dáil practically all of the political parties will be on the Yes side of this. So it is important that we keep our focus on what is hugely important to Europe. There's 500 million people that want to see us get a Yes vote and we have to keep it on that issue."
Dermot Ahern said the referendum text will "reflect principles which the Irish people hold dear and which the Government views as vital for Ireland. maintains the constitutional prohibition on Irish participation in an EU common defence. This prohibition will remain, in plain black and white, for all to see."
Minister of State for Europe Dick Roche has been deeply involved in agreeing a wording with Fine Gael and Labour over recent weeks, with a final meeting taking place last Friday. Fine Gael's front bench, which met in Leinster House yesterday, agreed to support the Bill in principle, but reserved the right to comment, or to offer amendments, until it has seen the final text.
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald said she doubted if the Government had done enough during the negotiation of the treaty, or the preparation of the legislation, to meet her party's concerns on neutrality.