EU treaty rewrite unlikely: Irish finance min

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland will have difficulty persuading other EU countries to renegotiate the European Union's reform treaty after voting it down in a referendum, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said on Friday.

"I'm very, very disappointed by this result. I think it's a sad day for Europe and for our people as well," Lenihan told RTE public service television.

"We have to accept the decision of the people and operate within it. But that's democracy and I accept that."

Asked if Prime Minister Brian Cowen could persuade other European countries to renegotiate the pact to take into account the concerns of Irish voters, Lenihan said: "We've already had seven years of negotiation and renegotiation."

"It's very difficult to see a renegotiation of a treaty where 27 states are involved .... It's very difficult, having gone through plan A and plan B, to see where plan C lies."

With 39 of 43 constituencies reporting, the "no" campaign led by 53.6 percent to 46.4 percent, despite Ireland's three main political parties all campaigning in favor of the treaty.

Ireland is the only EU country to give its citizens a vote on the Lisbon reform treaty, which replaces an EU constitution treaty rejected by Dutch and French voters in 2005.

(Editing by Catherine Evans)