The Progressive Democrats have called for an endorsement of the Amsterdam Treaty, saying it will "pave the way for future prosperity". Opening her party's campaign yesterday for a Yes vote, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said the Treaty contained laudable objectives and nothing about neutrality.
"It represents another step in the process of engagement with Europe which has been a central feature of Irish political life over the last quarter of a century, a process which has helped to transform Ireland from one of the poorest countries in Europe to one of the very wealthiest countries in the world."
The Treaty, she said, sought to promote investment and enterprise, employment and social inclusion, greater environmental protection and the more equal treatment of women. "It is difficult to see why anyone would argue against any one of those objectives."
She said the main argument put forward by opponents of the Treaty was that it would compromise our neutrality. She rejected this.
"The Amsterdam Treaty states that the European Union will seek to preserve peace and strengthen international stability and that the Union should have a new role in the field of humanitarian and peacekeeping activities. These are known as the Petersberg Tasks.
"Participation in these tasks is entirely voluntary: the Amsterdam Treaty imposes no obligations whatsoever on Ireland to take part in any peacekeeping missions."
Some 12 years ago, she said, opponents of the Single European Act had condemned it as a major threat to Irish interests. "Twelve years later, we can see that they were totally wrong. Where the older generation sees threats, the younger generation sees opportunities; and so it is with the Amsterdam Treaty."
