ON THE eve of the critical EU summit on the Lisbon Treaty tomorrow, the Taoiseach received a sharp rebuke from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny who said he had "very little confidence" in Mr Cowen's ability to steer the country towards a solution.
Mr Kenny accused Mr Cowen of failing to develop the bipartisan approach so desperately needed to get an acceptable solution and said his party would not give the Government a blank cheque on the issue.
"I regret to say that I have very little confidence that this Taoiseach and this Government have the capacity to steer the country towards a solution to this problem or to re-establish Ireland's place as a respected and influential member of the EU decision-making process," Mr Kenny told the Dáil.
"I am astonished at the Taoiseach's utter failure to build any bipartisan support for a solution, something he desperately needs.
"My party, which has been consistently and strongly supportive of all EU treaties to date, has not been consulted in any way about the Government's plans regarding the Lisbon Treaty. Last summer, I made it clear that I was prepared to play my part in finding a solution but this offer was spurned by the Government," said Mr Kenny.
He added that while the Taoiseach had found the time to travel around Europe to discuss his plans, he had found no time to brief the Dáil or the parties who support the European project.
"If he feels that he has a blank cheque from Fine Gael for whatever he proposes in less than 48 hours from now, he is seriously mistaken.
"Don't take for granted my support for any half-baked strategy that risks a second failed referendum which would have possibly irreversible consequences for the country," said Mr Kenny.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin responded by saying he was "genuinely mystified" by Mr Kenny's comments. He said the Oireachtas subcommittee on Ireland's Future in the EU, whose report the Dáil was debating, had involved full participation from the Opposition parties. Mr Martin also said that, in the run-up to the summit, the Government was in a negotiating position with 26 other member states and in the past the Oireachtas had never tried to tie the hands of the Government in such negotiations.
A Government spokesman said last night that Mr Cowen will meet Mr Kenny and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore today.
Over the past two weeks, the Taoiseach has travelled to a number of EU countries and met senior politicians, including the leaders of Germany, France and Britain.
He has since phoned most of the other EU leaders. In recent days, the Government has confirmed that the retention of an EU commissioner by each member state was one of the concessions it was seeking. Others include binding declarations on neutrality, abortion and taxation.
President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso yesterday announced his backing for the Government proposal that all 27 EU states should retain a commissioner.