The former taoiseach, Dr Garret Fitzgerald, has called for the Irish electorate to ratify the new European Constitution in a referendum.
Launching a guide to the new treaty, Dr FitzGerald hailed Ireland's contribution to the historic document, which was brokeredin June during Ireland's presidency of the European Union.
"We've made a disproportionate contribution to the Treaty and I believe it was very thoroughly negotiated," he said.
The former Fine Gael leader said that, while he was confident the constitution would be ratified in a referendum, "nothing" was certain. "Ratification in member states like Britain, Germany and France will take a lot of work," he predicted. The 25 EU member states have until November 1st 2006 to ratify the treaty. Not all states will hold votes on the matter.
The Constitution gives national parliaments of member states a greater role in making laws and the rights of their citizens will be rigorously protected. It also creates new roles for an executive president of the European Council and a Union Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The new guide to the Treaty by the Institute of European Affairs (IEA) provides an in-depth analysis of the document which is due to be signed by the 25 EU heads of State this Friday. The accord, which took four years of argument and preparation, will provide a permanent framework for the enlarged EU.
The Government announced today the Taoiseach is to launch two new information packs on the constitution tomorrow.
The first is a short pamphlet explaining in simple terms what the new European Constitution is and why it is important. The second document is a more detailed explanatory guide to the key provisions of the new European Constitution. Both of these documents will be circulated to schools, public offices, libraries and made available on the Internet.
Additional reporting: PA