Fundamental changes have been made to the Government position over the Nice Treaty since last year¿s referendum, according to the Taoiseach.
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Finnish Prime Minister Mr Pavo Lipponen (left) with the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, at Government Buildings today
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After a meeting with the Finnish Prime Minister, Mr Pavo Lipponen, Mr Ahern told journalists that since last June's rejection of Nice, the Government had consulted the social partners and other member states in a move to "maintain and build confidence into the future".
The Senate today concludes the specially convened debate on the Nice Treaty, with Mr Ahern today describing the four days of Dáil debate on the issue as "good and honest".
He also said last June's Seville Declarations, in which both EU member states and Ireland reaffirmed the State's position as neutral country, had been secured to allay fears on the issue. "We've made fundamental changes dealing with neutrality, dealing with accountability to our own parliament," he said.
Mr Lipponen said he had come "in the name of solidarity" and believed that the most pressing reason for expanding the EU was to offer the accession states the benefits of membership: "[They] have suffered so much - under communist rule in particular - they deserve to be part of this democratic union of nations".
He said EU expansion would give Ireland the benefits of access to a larger market but felt rejection of the Nice Treaty would not have a particularly adverse effect. "There's no need to threaten anything negative about what happens Ireland, which ever way it votes," he said.
Meanwhile, a new alliance advocating a Yes vote was unveiled today. The Irish Alliance for Europe is chaired by Prof Bridget Laffin of UCD and includes representatives from farming and business as well as members of the legal professions, among other groups.