The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, criticised the EU's approach to dealing with the Austrian government. In a debate on the European Council meeting at Feira, Portugal, Mr Bruton said the attitude to Austria was "a disgrace in terms of the application of the fundamental principles of the rule of law". He commended the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, and the Taoiseach "to some extent" for "seeking verbally to separate themselves from the herd that is pursuing this vendetta against the Austrian people because of the decisions they made in a free and fair election".

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in his reference to Austria said the Government had been among those countries seeking to achieve progress, "believing, like others, that it is time to move forward". He said no consensus emerged among the 14 in advance of the summit so it was not possible to move forward.

He told the Dail there was increasing acceptance in the EU of the need to retain one commissioner per member-state. The other areas discussed at the meeting included the progress report following the Helsinki Conclusions on European Security and Defence Policy.

Mr Ahern said the report represented a "balanced outcome" acceptable to Ireland and to other neutral and non-allied EU members.

The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said that whatever the outcome of the Inter-Governmental Conference at the end of the French presidency in December it was difficult to see, if any progress was made, how a referendum could be avoided in this country.