An updated White Paper on the Treaty of Nice is to be launched tomorrow in Dublin by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen. The paper is the work of officials in Mr Cowen's Department and will take account of developments since the first version appeared in March 2001, prior to the last Nice referendum.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 copies will be published, some of which will be distributed to members of the Oireachtas and to schools, colleges and libraries. The text will also be available on the Department's website (www.gov.ie/iveagh/) and newspaper advertisements will inform the public that the document is available on request.
A White Paper has been issued prior to every European treaty in which the State was involved. Unlike last time, the new version will also available in Irish, from next month. A question-and-answer booklet based on the White Paper will be distributed to every household in the state. Last year 1.3 million copies were issued.
Mr Cowen is expected to be accompanied at tomorrow's launch by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche.
The new version takes account of developments in the negotiations for enlargement of the EU, the establishment of the National Forum on Europe and the Convention on the Future of Europe, and the Seville declarations on Irish neutrality and related matters.
The decision to launch a second version of the White Paper was questioned by the Green MEP for Dublin, Ms Patricia McKenna. "There is no justification for producing a new one, using huge amounts of taxpayers' money," she said.
"The treaty hasn't changed one iota, the only thing they are doing is putting another spin on it," Ms McKenna said.
Department sources said the Government had an obligation to produce factual information for citizens and there was no question of advocacy or cutting across the functions of the Referendum Commission.
"Obviously the Treaty of Nice hasn't changed. This is more by way of being a second edition." It was necessary to update "some elements of context".
The White Paper would also have a new design and layout, "to make it more appealing".
The text of the Treaty of Nice is available from Alan Hanna's Bookshop in Rathmines, Dublin.
Yesterday, Mr Cowen briefed the Dáil's European Affairs Committee in advance of next week's regular meeting of EU foreign ministers. This was part of the new arrangements for greater Oireachtas scrutiny of EU affairs.
"I am convinced that the new arrangements, when compared with the practice in other member-states, if properly implemented, have the potential to place us at the top of the European league table in terms of parliamentary oversight of EU activities," he said.
Reviewing the agenda for the Brussels meeting, Mr Cowen said the main priority for the incoming Danish Presidency was to conclude the enlargement negotiations with up to 10 new countries by December. Ministers would also examine developments in the Middle East.