EU:The first draft of the EU reform treaty was published yesterday as Poland dropped its resistance to a text designed to replace the European constitution.
Polish foreign minister Anna Fotyga told her EU colleagues at the start of an inter-governmental conference that after scrutinising the treaty it came close to expectations. Warsaw would not insist on renegotiating a new EU voting system at the core of the draft text, she added.
Poland's decision to drop its resistance to a hard fought deal clinched at the European Council last month paves the way for the treaty to be agreed by EU leaders this October.
But there is still considerable work to be carried out on the 277- page draft EU treaty, which will reform how the EU takes decisions and set policy priorities for the bloc.
For example Ireland has still not made a decision on whether to follow Britain and seek the right to opt out of future EU justice decisions.
Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche said the Government would take this important decision in coming months.
Mr Roche said the Government would not exercise an option negotiated in last minute talks at the June EU summit to sign up to a British protocol that would prevent the charter of fundamental rights from having legal effect in the Republic.
The Government has come under pressure from trade unions and the Green Party over its initially ambiguous position on the charter, which is essentially a Bill of rights for citizens. But Mr Roche said the Government was supporting the charter.
He drew attention to the fact that Poland - the only other state to negotiate the option to join the British protocol - is still considering following Britain while Ireland is not.
Meanwhile, Mr Roche said he was not bothered by the fact that Ireland may be the only state in Europe to hold a referendum on the new treaty. Referendums enabled a Government to mobilise political parties, civil society, trade unions, business community and the farming community.
However, he conceded that anti-EU forces from around Europe would coalesce in Ireland to campaign for a No vote. He also hinted that EU decisions to offer concessions in sensitive areas such as farming in world trade talks could impact how important sectors of society viewed the EU.
"Anyone who thinks a referendum is a walk-over is deluding themselves," he said. "[ But] I don't think there will be a No vote and I'm not contemplating a No vote."
One problem the Government will encounter when it begins campaigning for a Yes vote is the sheer complexity of the treaty. The draft, so far only published in French, contains dozens of protocol.