Ahern confident constitution can be salvaged
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said he is confident the EU constitution can be saved despite rejection of the document by French and Dutch voters.
EU leaders agreed last night to put the process of ratifying the document on hold to allow for a "period of reflection".
Speaking in Brussels this morning, Mr Ahern said it was now up to individual governments to convince their people about the merits of the constitution.
European Union leaders have extended the November 2006 deadline for ratifying the EU constitution, seeking to salvage the treaty by arguing a period of reflection was needed following its rejection in French and Dutch referenda.
Luxembourg, which currently holds the EU presidency, said the removal of the November 2006 ratification deadline would allow for more explanation and debate and insisted the ratification process would go ahead.
However, many believe the constitution project as currently envisaged is effectively dead and the heads of state are merely trying to find a dignified way of burying it.
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