The Government is seeking a way out of the crisis caused by the rejection of the Nice Treaty. The result was greeted with shock and dismay throughout Europe.
The Taoiseach, who last night said he was "deeply disappointed", will travel to Gothenberg next Thursday for an EU summit which will be overshadowed by Irish voters' rejection of the treaty by 53.87 per cent to 46.13 per cent.
Mr Ahern and his EU counterparts will discuss how best to lay the ground for what will almost certainly be a second referendum on the treaty before the end of 2002 deadline. However, prominent No campaigners last night rejected the idea of another poll, with Mr Anthony Coughlan describing such a suggestion as "shameful".
Preliminary discussions on how to proceed will begin when the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, meets his 14 opposite numbers in Luxembourg on Monday. But there is no Government plan at this stage to deal with the result, which took the Coalition by surprise.
The treaty was rejected by 53.87 per cent of voters, with 46.13 per cent voting to approve it. Just 34.79 per cent of the electorate voted, the lowest turnout in the five EU referendums since 1972.
The vote against Nice in the Tanaiste's constituency of Dublin South West was the highest in the State at 61.58 per cent while the Taoiseach's Dublin Central constituency registered the fourth-highest No vote.
Just two constituencies, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South, voted by a majority in favour. These two constituencies - traditionally the most liberal in referendums on abortion and divorce - also had the second and third-highest turnouts in the State, the highest turnout occurring in Dublin North Central.
The referendum to prohibit the death penalty was approved with 62.08 per cent in favour of prohibition and 37.92 per cent against. The referendum to ratify the International Criminal Court was approved, with 64.22 per cent in favour and 35.78 per cent against.
There appeared last night to be little prospect of any significant renegotiation of the core of the treaty. Early speculation centres on the Government securing a declaration to accompany the treaty making clear that Ireland is not obliged by it to participate in any military action. Such a declaration could clarify other aspects of the treaty and how they affect Ireland.
This, according to informed speculation, could make it easier to allay public concern and secure a Yes vote. However, there is also concern in Government circles that a rerun, unless accompanied by convincing assurances on issues such as defence and sovereignty, would also fail.
Yesterday's result was greeted with shock in Brussels and dismay in the capitals of candidate countries seeking EU membership. Mr Romano Prodi, Commission President, and Mr Goran Persson, Prime Minister of Sweden, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, issued a joint statement expressing theirdisappointment.
But they made it clear there could be no renegotiation of the "substance" of the Nice Treaty. And they affirmed the EU's determination to press ahead with negotiations with 12 candidate countries.
The Taoiseach would not comment last night on the expectation of another referendum. Speaking to reporters, he stressed that he accepted the decision of the people, pledged to listen to the concerns of No voters and take time before deciding how to proceed.
The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said last night that voters shared her concerns that "there should not be a United States of Europe or a European super state". However, she said she thought enlargement "will guarantee that Europe remains a union of independent nation states".