The Tánaiste Ms Harney said this evening, she believed that for Irish people to vote No in the upcoming Nice referendum, would only serve to "put walls around our island".
Speaking at a forum at Dublin Castle to discuss the development of a common European social policy, Ms Harney said: "I believe we must stay focused on some simple truths about Ireland, Europe and what’s at stake for us".
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Ms Harney claimed that a successful No campaign for Nice would effectively represent a "profound reversal, with practical consequences for many people’s jobs and livelihoods".
"Member states in Europe agree that a high level of employment is fundamental to social policy," said Ms Harney, while economic, employment and social policy are mutually supporting.
The Taoiseach, said earlier today that Ireland remains fully committed to developing a genuine European social model.
Mr Ahern said: "The European Union has developed in an incremental, pragmatic and experimental manner . . . by building institutions, an organic system of law and an advanced level of economic integration".
He acknowledged critics of the EU’s claims that "hinders competition and produces unnecessary red tape". But from an Irish perspective he said, "Europe offers a new model of globalisation".
Mr Ahern described this model as "one that goes far beyond free trade, constrains the naked use of economic and diplomatic power, is law-based and consensual".
Speaking about the Nice Referendum the Taoiseach said "it is rapidly becoming clear that the second referendum will extend far beyond the issue of Nice itself.
"Ireland’s experience in Europe has been overwhelmingly positive," he said. "I am confident that this will be reflected when the Irish people come out to vote in the Referendum in the autumn".
Ms Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner responsible for Employment and Social Affairs, told the conference at Dublin Castle that officials in Europe "are looking at Ireland and waiting for a positive response from Nice".
Over 200 European policy makers and politicians arrived in Dublin for the two-day forum, which is intended to give a platform for discussion and was described by the Taoiseach as an "extremely important and timely".