The treaty establishing a European constitution, agreed during Ireland's EU presidency, is due to be ratified by all 25 member states of the European Union before November 1st, 2006. I believe the ratification of the European constitution is very much in Ireland's and Europe's interest, writes Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
The constitution reflects Europe's values, extends new rights to Europe's citizens, strengthens Europe's role in the world and simplifies decision-making in the enlarged EU. It also makes the Union more transparent and accountable and includes significant new powers for national parliaments.
Already seven member states have approved the constitution, including Spain where the treaty received 77 per cent of the vote in a national referendum. Austria and Germany are expected to complete their ratification processes in the near future.
The European constitution settles the long debate about the legal framework and institutional structures that should underpin the enlarged Union. Its ratification and implementation will allow the EU to move on and focus its energies on the economic and social challenges facing its economies.
In the coming week there will be referendums on the treaty: in France on Sunday and in the Netherlands on Wednesday. The eyes of Europe are now on these two countries. The outcome of the votes in two of the founding members of the EU will be very significant for the future fate of the constitution.
Their national debates suggest that many voters are not convinced that the EU is successfully addressing the issues they face in their daily lives, such as jobs, social protection and the fight against crime.
The constitution will support the efforts of governments to promote Europe's way of life and its strong tradition of social solidarity while ensuring that it remains successful and competitive in a rapidly changing world.
Its citizens do not need more debate about the future construction of Europe. They need strong action to address pressing economic and social concerns.
The Government has now published the Referendum Bill, the legislative basis for the holding of our national referendum on the European constitution.
The Bill includes the wording of the proposed amendment to the Irish Constitution that will be put to the people in the referendum. The Government has consulted with the main Opposition parties on the contents of the Bill. There will be a full debate in the Oireachtas on its contents.
In all of our previous referendums on the ratification of EU treaties (the Single European Act, Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice), the people have approved amendments to the Irish Constitution. These amendments have been designed to ensure the compatibility of Irish and EU law. The Referendum Bill follows this practice and is based on the actual provisions of the European constitution. The existing prohibition in the Irish Constitution oIreland's participation in any EU common defence will remain. There is nothing in the European constitution that affects our policy of military neutrality or the "triple lock".
This means that a Government decision, Dáil approval and UN authorisation will remain necessary for the participation of the Defence Forces in any overseas operation. Any future decisions the Government might take on issues under the EU's common security and defence policy will be fully in line with the Irish Constitution and the defence Acts.
Previous EU treaty amendments introduced the possibility of a number of member-states proceeding to develop further co-operation among themselves in certain areas (enhanced co-operation). They also provided for the possibility that member-states might, in the future, decide to opt in to certain areas of EU legislation, such as Ireland and the UK in relation to the Schengen protocol, where we had opted out because of our common travel area.
The existing provisions in the Irish Constitution, which require prior Oireachtas approval for Ireland to participate in enhanced co-operation or to avail of the possibility of opting in to certain areas, are also retained.
Under the present EU treaties, qualified majority voting (QMV) on legislative and other proposals is the norm in many areas. The European constitution provides for the possible future extension of QMV into some new areas where unanimity is now required.
However, it absolutely excludes any change from unanimity on defence decisions. In almost all cases relating to a proposed change in the decision-making procedure, the approval of every national parliament would be required.
The Government is proposing in this referendum an explicit provision in the Irish Constitution to allow the Oireachtas to block any proposal to change the unanimous vote requirement.
The European constitution envisages that any substantial future treaty change would be agreed and ratified by member-states, according to the current procedures.
In Ireland's case, the provision in relation to national referendums would continue to apply. The European constitution also provides for a simplified way to amend the treaty's provisions on the policies of the EU. This new simplified revision procedure cannot result in any extension of the powers of the EU.
The Government has decided that arrangements for the ratification by Ireland of the very limited treaty changes envisaged under this new procedure should remain as at present - namely a decision would be taken, on a case by case basis, on whether a national referendum would be necessary.
Publication of the Referendum Bill enables the Government to move rapidly to establish the Referendum Commission, which has the dual function of informing the public and encouraging voter turnout. We will ensure that the commission has the time and resources it needs.
In addition, the Government will soon publish a full White Paper on the European constitution, and will in due course circulate a short information guide to all households. I am confident that the Irish people will support the European constitution which is designed for a 21st-century Europe where the EU is the anchor of peace and stability on the continent.
The member-states need to ratify and implement the constitution and respond to the messages being sent by the French and Dutch voters - the EU needs to deliver better where it matters, on jobs, on social protection, on the fight against crime. The European constitution will support our common efforts to create a strong, competitive, social Europe that delivers for all its people.