The Taoiseach has said an article in the proposed EU constitution obliging Ireland to assist any member state under military attack is "totally unacceptable".
At a meeting yesterday in Brussels, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, failed to get support for an amendment to the Article backed by the EU's three other neutral member-states.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil this afternoon that a letter co-signed by Austria, Finland and Sweden had been sent to the Italian presidency seeking an amendment to the article which confers "an obligation of aid and assistance" on all member states to assist any other member state under attack.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil: "We've indicated that we could not enter into an obligation of this kind ... the present proposal on the issue as it is currently drafted is totally unacceptable to us and for other neutral and non-aligned states."
The joint amendment proposes changing the phrase relating to the "obligation" to a phrase stating a victim of armed aggression "may seek assistance" from other member states.
The presidency has indicated it would redraft the article and Mr Ahern said it would be considered when heads of state meet at the weekend.
The constitution is due to be agreed by the Inter Governmental Council meeting but Spain and Poland are concerned about proposed changes to the vote-weighting system the constitution and have been holding up agreement.
Mr Ahern said he did not see the matter being resolved easily which could lead to the treaty ratifying the constitution being signed during Ireland's presidency which begins on January 1st 2004.