Vol. 430 No. 4
44 Ms. McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the response of the Government to the recent adjustments to the Maastricht Treaty secured by the Danish Government; if, in the light of these changes, it will now be necessary to hold another referendum in this country on the revised Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Edinburgh European Council agreed on a number of steps intended to help meet Danish concerns about the Maastricht Treaty on European Union. The Conclusions of the European Council were of course unanimously agreed by all Twelve Heads of State or Government and they are fully accepted by the Irish Government.
It will not be necessary to hold another referendum in Ireland since the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty were not revised or amended. What was agreed at Edinburgh clarified certain aspects of the Treaty in so far as they relate to Denmark but did not modify the Treaty in any way. No question of ratification of changes to the Treaty therefore arises.
The Danish Government has now decided that a further referendum on ratification of the Treaty will be held in Denmark on 18 May.
