The Government has told the EU that Ireland will not seek to renegotiate any part of the Nice Treaty in advance of a second referendum on the issue.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, told a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg that the Government will seek to ratify the present treaty before the end of 2002.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the process of enlargement and said last week's referendum result would not affect the pace of negotiations with candidate countries.
"While respecting the will of the Irish people, ministers expressed their regret at the results of the Irish referendum on the Treaty of Nice. They excluded any reopening of the text signed in Nice. The ratification process will continue on the basis of this text and in accordance with the agreed timetable," they said.
Ireland's rejection of the Nice Treaty dominated the meeting, which had been intended as a preparation for this week's meeting of EU heads of government in the Swedish city of Gothenburg. Mr Cowen said the meeting was friendly, but admitted there was no sign of a solution to the problem.
"I've come here to explain the circumstances as best I can. They have responded to me on the basis that they will be as helpful as they can. But there was a consensus that the hard-won compromises agreed at Nice were not something they want to unravel," he said.
Mr Cowen rejected a suggestion that, by holding a second referendum on Nice, the Government would be flouting the democratically expressed will of the people. He said the Irish people remained committed to EU enlargement and that he had to find a way of moving forward with that process while addressing the concerns expressed during the campaign.
During a meeting with the Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, Mr Cowen was assured the Commission would help the Government to improve the democratic accountability of the EU. Mr Prodi denied that the Commission shared any responsibility for the No vote, due to the EU reprimand over last December's budget.
"This is our duty and we will do it, whether it concerns Ireland, Germany, Italy or any other country. Maybe it had consequences. I don't know but I don't care," he said.
The Swedish Prime Minister Mr Goran Persson admitted the Irish result threatened to delay enlargement. "This risks if not stopping, at least delaying enlargement," he said during a debate in the Swedish parliament.
Mr Cowen said he was willing to clarify Ireland's commitment to military neutrality, which he said was not affected by the Nice Treaty. He indicated he was considering a package of measures aimed at bringing the EU decision-making process closer to the Irish people.
These could include enhancing parliamentary scrutiny of Commission proposals before the Government takes up a negotiating position.
Mark Hennessy adds:
There were indications last night that the Government has warmed to the Labour Party's proposal that an inquiry similar to the New Ireland Forum should be held into Ireland's relationship with the EU.
"It is one option. It could have a role to play," a Government spokesman said last night.
The Taoiseach would not be bringing "a route map on the way ahead" when he goes to Gothenburg for the European Council meeting, the spokesman said.
Asked about the position of Mr Eamon O Cuiv, who voted against the treaty, a spokesman for the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said last night she would have found it difficult to imagine any Minister of State staying in a position where they were not willing to support Government policy.
However, the Tanaiste was now happy that Mr O Cuiv had made it clear to the Taoiseach that he was going to support Government policy.
