FINE GAEL:FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny threw down the gauntlet to the anti-Lisbon Treaty campaigner, Declan Ganley, by questioning his political courage yesterday.
Speaking in Brussels before the crucial summit dealing with Ireland's response to the Lisbon referendum defeat, Mr Kenny said he had thought before yesterday that Mr Ganley intended to contest next June's European elections in the Ireland West constituency.
"Maybe he hasn't the courage to do that," added Mr Kenny, referring to a press conference at which Mr Ganley said he had not yet made up his mind whether to run.
The Fine Gael leader noted Mr Ganley had said he was not against Europe but when people began to understand that the Lisbon Treaty was about creating an EU that was very open, very transparent and very accountable he believed they would support it.
Mr Kenny was in Brussels to attend a meeting of the European People's Party in advance of the summit, where he addressed fellow party leaders, including 14 prime ministers and the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. "I gave the meeting a rundown on our own proposals which are designed to be constructive and to reassure the people at home," he said.
Mr Kenny stressed that the reassurances contained in the French draft proposals did not require any renegotiation of the Lisbon Treaty. "They all offered very generous support for what Ireland has to do here and were happy to go to the council meeting and deal with those issues of concern."
Mr Kenny said some people at the meeting had a problem with the proposal that every country should retain a commissioner but he thought they would be happy to go along in the interests of getting the treaty ratified by Ireland.
He expressed the view that the declarations on neutrality, taxation and abortion should be dealt with sequentially over the next six months rather than being presented as a single decision.
"We should have a proper debate and a proper discussion in the Dáil and outside it so that people are properly appraised of what is involved."
Mr Kenny said he had made his point about the lack of consultation with Fine Gael but did not intend to have serious differences with the Government over it.
