Ireland's representative to a convention aimed at framing a European Constitution wants a reference to the importance of Europe's spiritual and moral heritage included, the Sunday Times reported.
John Bruton wants the Irish government to support his proposal, but the foreign affairs department has been noncommittal, the newspaper said.
Bruton shrugged off suggestions that a reference to belief in God would irk a Muslim country such as Turkey.
"It is designed to accommodate Muslims,"
he said. "They would probably see a Constitution with no reference to God
as being more difficult to live with than one that did."