The National Forum on Europe, which is being launched this afternoon, is expected to hold meetings in different parts of the State in an attempt to broaden the debate on Ireland's relationship with the European Union and involve local communities to the greatest extent possible.
Although the bulk of the weekly meetings will be held in Dublin Castle, the forum's independent chairman, Senator Maurice Hayes, is eager to draw members of the public in different areas into the debate.
These local meetings would act as a kind of "mini-forum", providing an opportunity to hear the concerns of ordinary citizens from around the country, similar to the exercise previously conducted by Senator Hayes and his colleagues on the Patten Commission for the reform of policing in Northern Ireland.
The possibility of a "Today at the Forum" type of programme, which would cover the Thursday meetings at Dublin Castle, is being discussed with RT╔. There are plans also to launch a Forum website on the Internet.
Speakers at today's official launch will include the Taoiseach, the Tβnaiste and members of the Opposition. Fine Gael has declined to participate in the Forum.
Although membership of the Forum is confined to "members of the Oireachtas and those nominated by parties represented in the Oireachtas", Members of the European Parliament from both parts of the island will have the right of attendance and participation.
The Forum also has a "Special Observer Pillar" which includes, among others, organisations that campaigned against the Nice Treaty, as well as business, the trade unions, the churches, the voluntary sector, pro-EU groups and "registered political parties not represented in the Oireachtas".
In the latter category the Workers' Party, the Communist Party of Ireland and the Christian Democrats will attend. The SDLP will be represented and all other Northern Ireland political parties have been invited.
The weekly "plenary" sessions will take place during the Dβil term. The whole exercise is expected to last about a year and will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, to last three months, will focus on the enlargement of the EU and its implications for Ireland. There will probably be a thematic approach with outside experts and speakers from Brussels invited to address specialist topics A report may be issued at the end of the debate.
Whereas Phase One is likely to focus on issues arising from the Nice Treaty debate, Phase Two will take a wider and deeper look at "The Future of Europe" and how the EU might develop after enlargement. This phase will last about nine months and a further report may be issued at the end.
Meanwhile the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, held several hours of talks in Brussels yesterday with the President of the European Commission Mr Prodi and the other members of the Commission, including the Irish Commissioner, Mr David Byrne, writes Mark Hennessy from Brussels.
"Our priority is that we have the ratification of Nice. We cannot intervene in the Irish debate. The Irish debate is, of course, up to the Irish people. We are waiting with confidence and friendship," said Mr Prodi.
He said he did not believe that the row earlier this year over the Government's budgetary policy and ongoing difficulties with Aer Lingus would reduce support for the EU in Ireland.
"We are trying always to interpret the rules with intelligence, flexibility and wisdom, but there are rules and there are rules. I completely share the Taoiseach's view that (Aer Lingus) must prepare for change," he went on.
The Taoiseach said the discussions had been 'productive and positive'. "I underlined Ireland's commitment to the European Union and our full and active involvement in it."