It would be a mistake if Ireland, north and south, allows a brand of Euroscepticism to develop, the Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister claimed today.
In a strongly pro-European submission to the Forum on Europe at Dublin Castle, SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan outlined his party's support for the Euro and the Nice Treaty.
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"Euroscepticism is no more noble in Ireland than it is in Britain," he said. "It would drag the entire country back towards a narrow smug self-serving nationalism, retard the human rights of citizens, stunt the economic growth of the country and reduce the international reputation Ireland enjoys worldwide".
Mr Durkan claimed Northern Ireland's involvement in the EU had greatly helped the peace process and the negotiation of the Belfast Agreement.
Europe, he argued, had also helped the Republic to "shed its post-colonial dependence" and accompanying hang-ups. The Republic, he said, had played a major role in defending the rights of itself and other small nations in the EU with the support of the European Commission.
Mr Durkan said the Nice Treaty was a "substantive achievement" for small countries and it would be "foolhardy" to reject it for a second time.
He also told the forum he believed the treaty would be superseded by a new agreement adopted by an inter-governmental conference in 2004 even if it was eventually ratified.
Acknowledging the serious concerns many people had about the treaty, Mr Durkan said his party shared some of those worries. "We believe, however, that we have to focus on the goal rather than the details," he said. "We do not believe that the treaty threatens the integrity, sovereignty or independence of any member state including Ireland".
He also renewed his party's demand that the euro be introduced in Northern Ireland following its adoption in the Republic. The long-term benefits of Britain joining the single currency were "clear and substantial".
Mr Durkan will meet the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, in Dublin Castle this morning and will have talks with Fine Gael and the Green Party in the afternoon.
Mr David Byrne, European Commissioner for Consumer Protection, and Poland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, will also address the session.