Wolfgang Schaeuble, German Interior Minister (Deutsche Welle, 15 June) said: 'Of course we have to take the Irish referendum seriously. But a few million Irish cannot decide on behalf of 495 million Europeans.'

Axel Schäfer, SPD leader in the German Bundestag (Irish Times, 14 June) said: 'We think it is a real cheek that the country that has benefited most from the EU should do this. There is no other Europe than this treaty. With all respect for the Irish vote, we cannot allow the huge majority of Europe to be duped by a minority of a minority of a minority.'

Valery Giscard d'Estaing, former French President and author of the EU Constitution (RTL, 19 June) said: 'The Lisbon Treaty is not dead... It is imperative that they vote again.'

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister (Reuters, 14 June) said:  'I am convinced that we need this Treaty. Therefore we are sticking with our goal for it to come into force. The ratification process must continue.'

European Commission President Jose Barroso says: 'The Treaty is not dead. The Treaty is alive, and we will try to work to find a solution.'

British Foreign Minister David Miliband says: '18 countries have now passed the reform treaty...each country must see the ratification process to a conclusion... there needs to be a British view as well as an Irish view.'