The Minister for Foreign Affairs warned ardfheis delegates that there would be serious consequences for Ireland if it failed to ratify the Nice Treaty.
Mr Cowen said in the eyes of the outside world our continued commitment to the EU would be seriously called into question, as would the long-term viability of our position within it.
"Our negotiating position and our standing, both with our partners and applicants, would be hugely damaged. I do not say this to exaggerate our position in the Union but because I believe it and, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, it is my duty to say it."
Ratifying the treaty would be for the people alone to decide."Some people say that the popular verdict has already been delivered and that it would be an affront to democracy to ask again.
"I accept the legitimacy of last June's vote, despite the low turnout and the evident levels of confusion about the issue. But I do not think it would be unreasonable, given the size of the stakes and the national interest involved, to ask people to reflect very carefully on whether they really want to go down that road."
Mr Cowen said since last summer the Government had tried to address many of the concerns which lay behind the No vote. He said in the Future of Europe Convention priority would be given to finding ways in which the Union could be brought closer to the citizen while protecting the State's national interest.
"In particular, on the principle that just as mud sticks so will the truth if you say it often enough, I want yet again to nail the lie that Nice has any implications for our traditional policy of neutrality. There is no European army, but even if there were, Ireland would be under no obligation to play any part in it. There is no binding mutual defence commitment within the EU."
Earlier, the Minister for Education, Dr Woods told delegates that 80 new state of the art physical education halls were to be provided in second-level schools within the next three years.
He predicted they would revolutionise physical education programmes and make a positive contribution to the overall health of communities. "This is a programme which will deliver double benefit: the contribution to the rounded education of students and the enhancement of the wellbeing of the wider community."
Dr Woods said the new facilities would be either 800 square metres or 600 square metres, depending on school size, and would be developed both by public-private partnerships and by direct investment. They would also be available to local sports and community groups.
A pilot programme of four such P.E. halls - in Hacketstown vocational school, Carlow; Loreto secondary school, Kilkenny; Manor House secondary school, Dublin; and CBS in Thurles - had already received planning permission.
The Minister said he had instructed that advertisements be placed to recruit directors of the new State Examinations Commission and the new Special Education Council.
He added that he was also establishing a Regional Offices Directorate.
On the industrial dispute relating to supervision and substitution in second level schools, Dr Woods said that the minor problems which arose during the week had been ironed out.
"I am happy that virtually all second level schools in the country have remained open."
