Ireland's relationship with the European Union was approaching a critical moment, the Taoiseach told the National Forum on Europe which was officially launched in Dublin Castle yesterday.
Mr Ahern said that was the reason the Government set up the forum. "The outcome of June's referendum on the Treaty of Nice highlighted the urgency of our task and threw what might otherwise have seemed rather abstract questions into sharp focus as issues critical to our national interest." He said that, while the Government had tried to focus the referendum campaign on the treaty and its immediate implications, it was clear that the result was strongly influenced by wider questions.
"Issues were raised which go to the heart of what the European Union is and should be. The national debate we were already planning has taken on a fresh relevance and immediacy. We see the forum as being a primary arena for that debate, and we also see its work feeding into, and being influenced by, the wider discussions taking place throughout the Union.
"The referendum result in June showed that we can no longer assume the Irish people will take the benefits of European integration as a given. The extremely low turnout in the referendum has shown a failure to engage and maintain the public's interest in the European Union. At a time when we are about to see and touch the tangible effects of ongoing European integration in the form of euro notes and coins, it is essential that we in Ireland have a full debate on all aspects of our membership of the EU, of our position in the EU and on the future of Europe itself."
But this "period of national reflection" must be about bigger questions relating to the future of Europe. His contribution would be based on "three very simple facts": firstly, Ireland's membership of the EU had been of immense benefit to Ireland and the EU itself; second, that Ireland's future economic and social well-being was "absolutely dependent" on full and committed membership of the EU; third, that the EU must continue to grow in membership and institutional capacity "and above all in terms of its relevance to the lives of its people.
"I regret that Fine Gael has, to date, indicated that it will not participate in the National Forum," he said.
"Fine Gael over the years has made a positive and constructive contribution to European integration. I know that Fine Gael has a significant input to make to the National Forum on Europe and to the wider Future of Europe debate. I hope the party will review its decision not to participate."
The forum chairman, Senator Maurice Hayes said his role was to facilitate and to ensure balance and fairness in the airing of viewpoints. "I will not be a 'salesman' for any patented nostrums, trying to get the forum participants to buy into any particular vision of the future; I am not, and I will not become, an advocate for any particular set of propositions or any one set of outcomes."
The Special Observer Pillar, including the social partners, groups with a special focus on European issues, and other organisations, would be of particular importance.
Public submissions would be invited and plenary sessions every Thursday would be open to the public.