The EU Reform Treaty will serve Ireland’s future needs, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern declared at the launch of the Government’s White Paper on the issue today.
He said the announcement of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's resignation would not have any effect on the outcome of the treaty referendum in two months' time and added that he expected the early June date for the referendum mooted by Mr Ahern would not change.
He said the Paper provided a detailed and factual account of the content of the Treaty for the information of voters.
"It is designed for the information of voters, and demonstrates, once again, the commitment of the Government to ensuring that the public is fully informed of the issues at stake in this referendum," Mr Ahern said.
It will not be sent out to households but a simpler explanatory booklet put together by the Referendum Commission will be distributed to every home in the State.
He said the treaty was not "a radical document" but a provision for necessary structural changes needed for the efficient running of the enlarged EU.
He said Ireland had immense benefit from the EU membership and the treaty would help consolidate the gains.
"I want to see our economic prosperity deepened and consolidated in the years ahead. The best recipe for this is for Ireland to continue with our successful European journey," Mr Ahern said.
Minster for State for European Affairs Dick Roche the treay enhanced the power of national parliaments and help address the "drift" which has developed between the EU and its citizens in the past 10 to 20 years. "It will increase the voice of Europe on the world stage. Europe, after all, is an economic giant which doesn't have the traction on the world stage that it should," Mr Roche said.
Today's White Paper follows the publication of the Bill for the 28th Amendment of the Constitution last month. A wording for the referendum has not yet been published. It will be distributed to public libraries and will be available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and on the Reform Treaty web site, www.reformtreaty.ie.