The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, has rejected suggestions that the Amsterdam Treaty threatens Irish neutrality, saying this claim has been made falsely for the 25 years since we joined the EEC.
"Ever since Ireland joined the EEC over 25 years ago we have been hearing claims that Irish military neutrality was under threat," Mr Andrews said in a statement yesterday. "These claims were not valid 25 years ago, and they are no more relevant today."
Mr Andrews's statement is apparently a response to claims by the Green Party last week that Amsterdam undermined Irish neutrality. That party has called for a No vote on May 22nd.
Mr Andrews called for debate on the treaty to be "based on facts . . . Completely unfounded suggestions have been made to the effect that the treaty in some way erodes or threatens to undermine Irish neutrality. The facts are that Ireland's neutrality is not affected in any way by the Amsterdam Treaty.
"The treaty explicitly states that EU policy shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member-states. This reference was inserted to take account of Ireland's policy of military neutrality."
He said that successive governments had made it clear that if ever the issue of an EU common defence were to arise in the future, it would be put to the Irish people for decision in a referendum. "In any event an EU common defence would be such a major undertaking that it would require major treaty reform, a further Inter-Governmental Conference and, in Ireland's case, a referendum."
He said that the inclusion in the treaty of "peacekeeping, humanitarian, crisis management and peace-making tasks" was a welcome development, and was fully in line with Ireland's peacekeeping traditions. "Participation in these tasks, which will be carried out by the WEU at the EU's initiative, is completely voluntary."
Calling for a Yes vote, Mr Andrews said Ireland had benefited substantially from its 25 years of EU membership and had made a distinctive contribution to the development of the EU. "The greatest and most tangible impact of Europe has been on our national prosperity.
"The years of our European membership have seen living standards here rise dramatically against the EU average, from 58 per cent in 1973 to well over 90 per cent today. The direct effects of EU funding and the opportunities available to our businesses and farmers within the European single market have contributed significantly to our economic success. It is on these elements of our European experience rather than on illusory threats to neutrality that debate on our future role in Europe ought to focus."