Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

A special Oireachtas committee is hearing submissions in an effort to help the Government deal with the consequences of the Lisbon Treaty rejection. Here, Green Party member Déirdre de Búrcaspells out what exactly is required

THE IRISH rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is a serious issue confronting Ireland and other European Union member states and institutions. But there is a danger that if political energies are concentrated on the immediate question of the Irish rejection of the treaty, the EU will continue to avoid dealing with the longer-term - and more fundamental - question of its own political legitimacy.