Ireland will today appeal for time to work out if it can save the Lisbon treaty as shell-shocked EU foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg to debate how to cope with the country's dramatic "no" vote.

The eight member nations yet to pass the latest EU treaty, including Britain, are being urged to continue their ratification processes to keep the document alive and in turn pile pressure on the government in Dublin to try a second referendum next year.

Ministers will hear a presentation from Micheal Martin, the Irish Foreign Minister, at the start of an extended lunchtime discussion on the way forward for Ireland and the EU.

Despite the deep frustration among EU ministers that the only referendum on their new rule book among 27 members resulted in rejection, no clear answers are expected to emerge today.

The EU's senior leaders are desperate to keep a lid on speculation about a two-speed Europe, which would leave Ireland behind. They are also leading a drive to stop other countries pronouncing the treaty dead.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, is in Prague to stiffen Czech resolve and Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, is meeting the Polish PM Donald Tusk in Gdansk.

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, appealed for a calm and "respectful" response to the Irish vote, aware that Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg appeared to be ready to bully Ireland by issuing an ultimatum: pass the treaty or else.

"Today is a first chance for us to listen to the Irish foreign minister, to hear his preliminary assessment," Mr Miliband said as he arrived in Luxembourg.

"That will then continue at the European Council on Thursday and Friday, so I think listening is the order of the day."

He confirmed that Britain would press ahead with its treaty ratification on Wednesday, when it is due to complete its passage through the House of Lords.

"We must give the Irish space. To stand up for the right of the British parliament to take a clear view is the absolute democratic right of a British representative."

The mood among most of the foreign ministers seems to be to avoid rushing to say anything that would kill the treaty, despite the Irish vote.

Ursula Plassnik, the Austrian Foreign Minister, said: "We have to pursue our goal to make the European Union more efficient and more relevant to the citizen. That is why this process will not be stopped."

William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said that the Government should admit the treaty was dead.

"I just wish our Government would give a lead instead of saying let's see what everyone else does," he said. "The only point in other countries continuing to ratify the treaty is to put pressure on the Irish, to bully the Irish."

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