Fine Gael has suggested the traditional interpretation of neutrality is now out of date, calling for a re-examination of Ireland's security and defence policy to reflect the modern world.
The party leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said yesterday he was opposed to calls for neutrality to be enshrined in the Constitution.
He called instead for the publication of a White Paper on the matter to be followed by legislation.
If the Government did not do this, he said he would do so if elected to Government.
Legislation, and not the constitution, was the place for Ireland's position on security and defence policy to be stated, he said.
Mr Noonan was speaking at a press conference where he outlined the reasons for his party's refusal to take part in the Government sponsored Forum for Europe.
Rejecting the Forum as an "ad hoc talking shop" Mr Noonan called for a Dβil debate on Europe.
"We want this debated especially by the people with a democratic mandate to do so and we want it debated in the fora constitutionally set up to do so," he said.
Meanwhile, the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs has appointed the former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, to prepare a report on the future constitutional development of the European Union.