The Cabinet has approved the Lisbon Treaty referendum bill, which it says guarantees the Constitutional bar on Irish troops joining a European Union army. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the referendum would likely be held in June.
The reform treaty will introduce all the main institutional changes foreseen in the defunct constitution. Its aim is to give the EU stronger leadership and a more effective foreign policy. It will also give more say to European and national parliaments.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill provides for the continuation of the prohibition on Irish participation in any EU common defence force.
This prohibition being "in plain black and white, for all to see", undermines any argument by those advocating a No vote in the forthcoming referendum on the Treaty would dilute Irish neutrality, Mr Ahern said.
A similar provision was inserted after the second referendum on the Nice Treaty in 2002.
"The proposed legislation reflects principles which the Irish people hold dear and which the Government views as vital for Ireland," the Minister said.
Mr Ahern said the Bill will also give the Houses of the Oireachtas an enhanced role in EU law-making by requiring the Dáil and Seanad to give prior approval to Irish involvement "in certain areas of EU activity". These areas were not specified.
"This constitutional amendment will allow us to go forward on the basis of equality and partnership with our fellow members of the European Union," he added. "The Reform Treaty represents a good deal for Ireland and it is important from a national point of view that we proceed with its ratification."
The full text of the Bill will be published in the coming days.
A date for the referendum vote has yet to be set, and although widely expected to take place on May 29th, the Taoiseach told reporters during a visit to Slovenia, which holds the EU presidency, today, that June was a more likely date.
"We hope to ratify in parliament probably in April and then we will take it to the people which will probably be in June," he said.
While Mr Ahern is always cagey about dates for polls he prefers to have them on Thursdays which makes June 5th the most likely date.
A spokesman for Minister for the Environment John Gormley, who has responsibility for the referendum said: "We are a step closer to a date after today's approval of the wording. It should be announced within a week."
Last weekend, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said Ireland's role in EU negotiations would be strengthened by a Yes vote in the referendum because no other country will have a mandate from the electorate.
Ireland is the only one of the 27 European Union states holding a referendum on the Reform Treaty.
Additional reporting agencies