The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, has accused the critics of the treaty of misleading the electorate.
It was not true, he said, that Ireland's influence had been eroded by giving up the veto in certain areas. Effective decision-making was in Ireland's interest and the veto had been retained in the area of taxation.
Neutrality was not being sold out. This had been alleged when we joined the EEC, when we supported the Single European Act and when we accepted the treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam. But we were still a neutral country and Nice would not change that because all security and defence decisions would have to be unanimous and Dail approval would be required for any overseas deployment of forces. Ireland would only participate in missions with a UN mandate, he said.