White Paper on Amsterdam Treaty to be unveiled today

The Government is expected to be questioned about the wording proposed for the forthcoming EU referendum when the long-awaited White Paper on the Amsterdam Treaty is published today.

This follows a report in The Irish Times last week that the Government intends not only to ratify the Amsterdam Treaty but to put forward a provision which will enable it to pursue any discretionary options provided in it.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, will introduce the 176-page White Paper - it explains the changes to be made in the EU as a result of the new treaty - before an invited audience at 11 a.m. in Iveagh House.

The Government's plans for the referendum required to ratify the treaty will be announced by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, tomorrow. It is understood the Cabinet last week approved the proposal for the establishment of a statutory commission to conduct future referendums.

The Amsterdam Treaty was finalised at the EU summit in June 1997. It will come into effect when ratified by all 15 memberstates.

Consequent on the successful court challenge by the late Mr Raymond Crotty in 1987, a constitutional amendment will have to be held in coming months to seek the electorate's approval for the treaty.

Government sources now suggest the referendum might not be held alongside the two by-elections in Dublin North and Limerick East. The Government has proposed to the Opposition parties, nonetheless, that the Bills enabling a referendum to be held should be debated ail next week.