IRELAND'S MILITARY neutrality will not be affected by the passage of the Lisbon Treaty, Swedish European commissioner Margot Wallstrom has said.
"There is no threat to neutrality. My own country would never accept something that did not ensure neutrality," she told the National Forum on Europe in Dublin Castle.
"The treaty ensures that defence remains a matter of national sovereignty, so that each government is free to decide what forces, if any, it will commit to any particular operation," she said.
Ireland's progress over the last 35 years "has had a lot to do with national policies, and with people's ambition and drive, but I think it is fair to say that the EU has helped a bit".
Ireland, in turn, has contributed "a great deal to the EU", including some outstanding individuals, such as David O'Sullivan and Catherine Day, who have successively held the EU's top bureaucratic job since 2000.
In reply to questions, she acknowledged that she had some doubts about the wisdom of reducing the size of the commission - leaving all member states with commissioners for 10 out of every 15 years.
"I belong to those who said that we might win in efficiency with a small commission but lose in legitimacy. I think it is important for smaller states to have a commissioner, to have a face for the commission," she said.
She rejected the No camp's charges that the reform treaty is little different from the constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in referendums during 2005. Ninety per cent of the constitution did remain, but it is the 10 per cent that has been dropped that makes the difference, including a number of references to flags and anthems.
"Words lead to thought. The very word 'federal' would have been enough to damn the constitution in my own country," said the Swedish commissioner.
Responding to Independent Senator Feargal Quinn, she said Ireland would not lose control of decisions about foreign direct investment. The treaty will give the EU authority to negotiate agreements on trade in services, but she said this was about ensuring that EU states act together where "it is better to act together".
Fianna Fáil TD Martin Mansergh said Ireland had the legal right to reject the Lisbon EU reform treaty, but the moral responsibility to pass it.
He said a No vote would be "a morally wrong thing to do, when compelling national interest has been put forward".
However, former justice minister Nora Owen criticised the Tipperary South TD, saying it was not helpful "to speak of moral duties".
Former Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna said Ms Wallstrom as "commissioner responsible for propaganda had certainly not disappointed" in her speech.
"There wasn't one word of anything that was negative," said Ms McKenna, who is with the People's Movement calling for a No vote.
Sinn Féin's Daithí Doolan said "just six words in the treaty" cover climate change "and they were inserted at the behest of Bertie Ahern".
