Those who claimed to support enlargement of the European Union while opposing the Treaty of Nice were taking a "self-indulgent" stance, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mr Cowen told the Institute of European Affairs in Dublin yesterday that he had not heard from opponents of Nice any coherent explanation of how they reconciled their opposition to the Treaty with their support for enlargement.
"Some say that they want, as Sinn FΘin proposed last week, a new treaty. Let us leave aside for a moment the kind of Union they might want and whether it would truly be in Ireland's interests. Does anyone seriously think that a new treaty could be negotiated and ratified in time for enlargement to proceed on schedule? And does anyone seriously think that the elements of such a treaty would differ substantially if at all from Nice?
"To claim to support enlargement while opposing Nice is, to put it mildly, self-indulgent. While it will be for the people alone to decide what course of action should ultimately be taken, the Government is determined to take during 2002 whatever steps it can to achieve the ratification of the Treaty of Nice and to ensure that enlargement can go ahead on schedule.
"Part of our response to the referendum has been a recognition that the No vote was in large part motivated by concerns and uncertainties which go well beyond the Treaty of Nice. The way to address those concerns and uncertainties is through vigorous debate. The Government decided to establish the National Forum on Europe for that purpose and, in my view, the forum has made an excellent start."
It was becoming steadily clearer that the case had to be made afresh, not just for Nice, but for Ireland's continued involvement at the heart of the Union. "I believe there is a need to demonstrate just how wide-ranging and essential the benefits of membership are, and how closely they are linked to the Union's unique character."
Opponents of the EU had made much of Ireland's alleged loss of sovereignty and the same instinct underlay the anti-Nice "You will lose money, power and influence" slogan. "I do not see sovereignty as some sort of treasure to be hoarded or as something which, once shared, is lost irretrievably. On the contrary, the true measure of sovereignty is surely its capacity to be used effectively to benefit and protect the people."
The Minister made no direct comment on a proposal from Dr Garret FitzGerald, who was in the audience, that the Nice referendum should be held on the same day as the general election, to ensure a better turnout. Mr Cowen said the proposal was closely noted. He also indicated in response to questions that no decision would be made on another referendum in advance of a report on its deliberations from the National Forum on Europe.
He said that since the Laeken summit, there had been some focus on NATO's contribution to the development of the EU's capabilities for crisis management.