Ireland's "Minister for Europe" insisted yesterday that the terms of the Nice Treaty do not erode the influence of the smaller countries on the EU.
Speaking in Enniscorthy last night, the Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche, stressed that Ireland would continue to supply a Commissioner for the foreseeable future.
Each of the big five of Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy are set to lose one of their two seats at the Commission in 2005 as part of the process of enlargement, he explained.
However, Ireland's single place is secure until membership of the EU rises to 27 countries, at which point the size and composition of the Commission will be subject to a review in which Irish interests will be protected.
"Decisions will be on the basis of unanimity," Mr Roche said. "Nothing can happen without Ireland's consent. If membership is to be rotated, it will be on the basis of strict equality." He was addressing a meeting of the National Forum on Europe in Murphy-Flood's hotel.
The Government line was challenged by Wicklow Green Party county councillor Ms Deirdre de Burca, who suggested the substance of the treaty was more an attempt at efficiency than democracy. She was highly critical of the existing EU regime where Councils of Ministers in various policy areas meet behind closed doors. She felt the treaty did nothing to rectify this.
"There is a danger that the sense of alienation from European Union institutions felt by ordinary citizens will grow and will provide fertile ground for right-wing, xenophobic, anti-European movements to gain popular support," Ms de Burca said.
She was also critical of the extension of qualified majority voting proposed under Nice, with the loss of the Irish veto to 30 new areas, saying this was bound to favour the bigger states.
Mr Roche responded by suggesting that Ireland will punch above its weight under the qualified majority voting system outlined in the treaty.