Ireland's military neutrality remains protected under the Lisbon Treaty, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore argued today.
In an address to the National Forum on Europe in Dublin Castle, Mr Gilmore insisted nothing in the treaty provides for "conscription or for Ireland being forced into wars or imperialist adventures".
He said the treaty would pave the way for a more effective implementation of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and a new European Security and Defence Policy.
"But it is important to stress that the key decisions on security and defence matters will continue to be taken by unanimity, while Ireland's status of military neutrality is specifically protected and our domestic 'triple lock' guarantee is fully maintained," he said.
The parallel civilian and humanitarian missions in several European and world trouble spots from the Balkans and Caucasus to Gaza and East Timor demonstrated the union's continuing commitment to peace, security and stability, he said.
"Ireland's history of peace-keeping and of constant, professional input to multilateral diplomatic efforts for peace and stability will be maintained and expanded by our involvement in the EU's policies and programmes."
Mr Gilmore outlined why his party would be advocating a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum on the treaty. "More than any previous one, this is the European treaty which advances the rights of citizens in the European Union and which progresses the social agenda in Europe," he said.
"While it may be in the necessary interests of governments in other member States to downplay the significance of this treaty, in order to refuse the calls for referendums in those states, we have no such need in this country and we can rightly celebrate the achievements of the Lisbon Reform Treaty".
"This is not an economist's treaty or a central banker's treaty or a Eurocrat's treaty. It is a citizen's treaty," he said.
Mr Gilmore warned that failure to ratify the treaty would thrust the EU as a whole back into the introspection of the "period of reflection".