No Irish Government has had a "begging-bowl" mentality to wards Europe, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, insisted in the Dail yesterday.

He was speaking during a debate on last week's European Council meeting in Gothenburg.

A "grave disservice" was being done to the electorate's understanding of "our role in Europe" when it was suggested "we are moving from a begging-bowl mentality" to some other, he said.

A central theme of the two Delors plans was the economic realisation that in a single market "with its own centrifugal economic force", it was necessary for peripheral regions to be given the economic, social and cohesion funds to allow them to compete. It did little service to the argument for supporters of the EU to suggest that "we have been engaged" on the basis of a handout mentality.

"It has been a hands-on mentality," Mr Cowen said, as the Republic since 1973 used European Community funds strategically, economically and socially.

A widespread sense of disconnection existed between the institutions of the EU and its citizens, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, had told the Gothenburg summit, he informed the House. There was frustration at what was sometimes seen as an absence of clarity, openness and responsiveness about the way the EU went about its business.

"My views about the sense of disconnection between the institutions of the Union and its citizens were very widely shared," he said. "There was an acceptance that this has to be at the heart of what we do in future." It was easier to diagnose the problem than to prescribe widely acceptable remedies. He had sought to make it "absolutely clear" that the No vote was not a vote against EU enlargement. He had "solemnly reiterated" reassurances given to his European colleagues by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that Ireland remained "fully committed to enlargement". He had emphasised that "while regretting it, at the same time we fully respect the democratic legitimacy of the people's decision".

He had told the Gothenburg meeting that Ireland needed "an extended period of reflection" on the issues, at national level - and he said the Government had announced the establishment of a national Forum on Europe. He hoped this would allow for a more systematic and extensive debate. There were also important questions to be considered pertaining to the way the Oireachtas scrutinised EU business.

The European Council had confirmed the enlargement process was irreversible, the Taoiseach reported. This was positively welcomed by the accession countries, notably by the Polish Prime Minister, Prof Jerzy Buzek, whom he had met. The contributions to the EU debate by Mr McCreevy, Ms de Valera and Mr Eamon O Cuiv were "deeply cynical", the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn said. The Nice Treaty had demanded proper debate about the destination of the European project, a source of concern to many, "used as per the Attorney General to strike anti-European poses.

"Our views on Europe are as important as those of the French or Germans," he said. "It is the failure of our own Government to make any voice heard that creates the impression we are being lectured at by others."