Fine Gael's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Gay Mitchell, has said Ireland should take a greater role in shaping a common EU defence policy.
Speaking at the party's forum on neutrality in Dublin today, Mr Mitchell said: "Peace and stability are not only the prerequisites for prosperity in Europe, they are the essential foundation on which the European Union is based."
He said his party was not prepared to allow the debate about a common defence policy to go the way of the Partnership for Peace.
"We were up front then and we are up front now. We want an upfront debateon this issue and we want the people to be given the information necessary to makethe decision," he added.
"It is Fine Gael's view that we should be one of the architects ofEuropean defence and security as well as being part of the architecture.
Mr Mitchell said: "We can keep our heads down and let others make the rules. In that caseshould we join later we will join on the rules made by others, just like thesituation in regard to EMU."