Ratification of the Nice Treaty would help transform Europe's economic and political landscape, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, told the Dáil yesterday.
"The Irish people are being asked in this referendum if we wish to assist in this process, or to stand in its way," he added.
Mr Cowen was opening a special four-day debate, over two weeks, on the 26th Amendment of the Constitution Bill, paving the way for the Nice referendum, which is expected to be held in October. The debate continues today and on next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ireland, he said, had been a success in the EU. "Our membership has been a force for progress, jobs and development. Does it make sense to change tack at this important stage of our national development, and put that at risk? Do we wish Ireland to remain at the heart of the Union, as a fully engaged and active member, or do we wish to move ourselves to the margins? This is the broad political context in which we must consider the treaty," said Mr Cowen.
He added that the decision to be made by the electorate was serious. "It will have real consequences for people in Ireland and for people across Europe. Voting Yes to Nice is the right thing to do from a broad European perspective. But it is also the right thing to do from our own national perspective. We are not being asked to choose between our own interests and those of others," he added.
Mr Cowen said he sincerely believed it would be a major mistake to think that if Ireland voted No things would simply go on as before. "Every single person in this country is directly affected by our membership of the European Union, whether as a worker, an employer, a farmer, a trade unionist, a parent or a consumer. Every part of Ireland is affected. Therefore, everyone has a stake in the outcome of the referendum," he added.
Political leaders, said the Minister, had a particular responsibility. "If we are honest, we failed collectively last time to energise and enthuse the public, with a turnout of barely more than a third. Analysis after the event revealed that there were many complaints of confusion and lack of knowledge. Whatever outcome we want to see this time, let us together resolve to do a far better job this time in explaining what is involved and just why it is so important to vote," he added.
Mr Cowen said that during the last referendum, the Government had said that the Nice Treaty posed no threat to Irish neutrality. "We told the people there was no European army in the making. We explained that the threat of conscription was a fantasy. We promised that Ireland would not join a military alliance without the say-so of the people," he added.
"We have now demonstrated beyond all doubt that what we said was true and accurate. Those members of the electorate who hesitated last time out can now vote Yes to Nice in confidence. Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality is safe.
"I know that there are those, many of who will have voted No to every EU treaty, who are possibly irreconcilable on this issue. I deeply regret this. The vast majority of these people share the Government's deep commitment to the principles of justice, equality and the building of a better world. They failed to see that the Union is already a major vehicle for achieving these goals and can become an even stronger force for good in the future."
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dick Roche, said that the last referendum campaign lacked urgency, clarity and a sense of how important the treaty was, not just for Europe, but also for Ireland. "The treaty was seen as something abstract, of no real relevance or indeed importance," he added.
Mr Roche said myths about migration patterns were not the only yarns the No campaigners had been spinning. "They have peddled blatant and untrue scares about Ireland's right to nominate a commissioner and about our traditional neutrality," he added.
