Vol. 540 No. 1
177 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposed national forum on Europe; the proposed terms of reference therefor; the way in which he expects it to operate; his proposals in relation to the Treaty of Nice; and the timeframe for the implementation of such proposals. [19862/01]
The Government is continuing to reflect on the outcome of the Nice treaty referendum and the various concerns expressed during the course of the campaign before deciding on the way forward. Many of these concerns evidently related to issues which are not covered by the Treaty of Nice but to the wider perspective of our relationship with the Union in the longer term. In preparation for the debate on the future of Europe and as part of this broad process of reflection, the Government has announced that a national forum on Europe will be established. The forum will provide an opportunity for wide-ranging discussion of Ireland's role in the Union in the context of its expected enlargement.
The Government will shortly consult with the Opposition regarding the forum's terms of reference, its composition and method of operation. The Government recognises that the successful experience of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation is widely seen as a useful model in this regard. It is hoped that agreement can be reached on these matters before the end of this month, with the forum operational by early autumn.
