Endorsing the Amsterdam Treaty in next week's referendum will not affect Irish neutrality and will simply put civil and social rights at the centre of European development, five of the main party leaders in the Dail said yesterday.
Hosting a joint news conference of the leaders in Dublin, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was joined on the platform by Mr John Bruton, Mr Ruairi Quinn, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, and Mr Proinsias De Rossa, all calling for a Yes vote on May 22nd.
According to the Taoiseach, a No vote would be "daft" at this time.
"Great damage could be done to all our interests if we were now to show ourselves less committed to EU membership, having reaped so many advantages in the last 25 years," Mr Ahern added.
However, if threats arose in Europe to our vital interest in the future, "let us deal with them as full, loyal and committed parties of the European Union, instead of losing the serious attention of our partners".
The Fine Gael leader said the most important argument in favour of a Yes vote was that the treaty provided for the EU's expansion to bring in eastern countries - "thus ensuring that the zone of peace in western Europe can be extended".
"The treaty and the development of European integration guarantee the possibility of peace in Europe for the next generation and for generations to come," he said.
Saying that the treaty is about jobs, social exclusion and preparing for the expansion of the EU, Mr Quinn insisted that it would not endanger Irish neutrality. The referendum wording provided a constitutional backing to the Government's political commitment to ensure that any proposals to alter our neutrality would have to be referred back to the people.
For the first time, memberstates recognised the need to tackle the social exclusion which had left many Irish citizens as mere onlookers at the lifestyles enjoyed by Europeans, he said.
The Tanaiste said voting on Ireland's future in Europe was of equal significance and importance to voting on the Belfast Agreement.
"We must recognise the huge contribution which membership of the Union has made to social and economic development in this country by delivering an overwhelming endorsement of the Amsterdam Treaty on May 22nd. We have a duty to vote and every reason to vote Yes," she added.
Describing the treaty as a "significant development in the evolution of the European Union", the Democratic Left leader said fears about Ireland being dragged into NATO and the WEU were "without foundation".
His party supported the treaty as it represented a move away from the "predominantly promarket and pro-business ethos of Maastricht and towards a more democratic, social Europe that puts civil and social rights at the centre of European development".
The Green Party TD, Mr Trevor Sargent, who attended yesterday's news conference but was not on the platform, accused the Government of recklessness in holding the treaty referendum on the same day as the vote on the Belfast Agreement.
The treaty involved many complex issues for people to determine by May 22nd. The Government was treating the electorate with "contempt" by forcing the two decisions on one day.
The Christian Solidarity Party has called for a No vote on the Amsterdam Treaty on the grounds that it will reduce national independence and sovereignty.
The treaty had implications for Irish military neutrality and would diminish Ireland's voice in Europe.