The Irish Commissioner for food safety, Mr David Byrne, last night confirmed that he has been involved in intensive discussions with ministers in Paris and London to find a way out of the beef crisis, Patrick Smyth reports from Brussels.
Mr Byrne endorsed reports that both capitals are keen to lower the temperature of polemic and appear to want to find a diplomatic solution.
Yesterday the EU's Scientific Steering Committee, composed of independent scientists, failed to reach definitive assessment on "new" French evidence of weaknesses in the British safety system but is expected to report this evening.
Sources close to the committee would not confirm persistent reports that a clear majority do not back the French view, but the collective emphasis on diplomacy strongly suggested this.
Some sources have speculated that the Commission may be able to buy off French concerns by reviving its call for systematic diagnostic testing of beef for BSE throughout the EU.
Should the committee find against France, Paris is likely to be given a few days to react before the Commission takes legal action through the Court of Justice.