EU: EU Commission vice-president Margot Wallström has rejected claims that the EU constitutional treaty will clear the way for the creation of a European army.
The Swedish commissioner, who has responsibility for communications strategy, said the draft constitution was good for Ireland and would make the EU more democratic and transparent.
In a debate at the National Forum on Europe in Dublin, Ms Wallström said the commission would not issue propaganda about the constitution during the referendum campaign, which will take place later this year.
She rejected concerns that the constitution would compromise Ireland's neutrality. "Let me stress that the constitutional treaty does not create a European army, as some would have us believe. Defence will remain a matter of national sovereignty."
Stating there was no question of the EU constitution superseding the Irish Constitution, she also questioned the argument that the document will create a European superstate.
"The very first thing the constitution states is that the EU has only the powers that its member-states confer on it."
She said there was nothing in any of the EU treaties that would erode the ban on abortion in the Irish Constitution. "There is nothing in the treaties or acts supplementing it that will affect the application of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution of Ireland."
Several representatives of the voluntary and non-government sector made submissions.
These included Roger Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, who said the EU battle-groups would engender an "imperial tradition" in the EU.
Ms Wallström argued the EU was a force for peace on a continent whose history was not glorious. "We have replaced the heroism of the battlefield with patience at the negotiating table."