The self-indulgence of campaigners against the Nice Treaty was "frightening", the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, told the National Forum on Europe in Dublin Castle.
In a sharp attack on the "No" lobby, he rejected claims that enlargement of the European Union could proceed without ratification of the treaty. The EU was based on the rule of law - "It doesn't advance on the basis of 'ad hoccery' or expediency."
He told yesterday's Forum session it would be a legitimate democratic practice if a decision were taken to hold a second referendum on Nice. "Our essential national interests are at stake."
It was time to deal with the realities of what was in the treaty "as distinct from the Armageddon worst-case scenarios". In every previous enlargement Ireland had "benefited hugely".
The EU had played a central role in breaking, for the first time in Ireland's history, "the cycle of under-employment and emigration".
Speaking in impassioned tones and without notes, he rejected claims that Irish neutrality was in danger. The reality was that if you wanted peace, you had to have security. Mr Cowen said the Northern Ireland example had shown that, "if we want peace we can't expect to get it by just talking about it".
Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley, said holding a second referendum on Nice would send a message to the Irish people that, "democracy is all right but we are going to have to keep doing this till we get the right answer". The referendum result was a democratic decision and should be respected.
Enlargement was going to take place, regardless of whether Ireland said Yes or No in a second referendum.
The Forum was adjourned until February 11th.