The Government's refusal to heed the European Commission's demands for budgetary and tax changes proved that Ireland does not have to bow to anyone in the EU, the Progressive Democrats argued yesterday.
Calling for a Yes vote in the Nice Treaty referendum, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy's decision to respond robustly to the Commission was "a good thing".
"We do not become a nation of zombies when we go to the Council of Ministers. There have been many times when we have taken robust positions. We do not suspend our critical faculties."
Defending her "Boston/Berlin" speech last year, she said she had then not argued against EU membership, but rather that Ireland had "the freedom to make important economic decisions".
"I do not believe that it is appropriate that the EU should tell nations what taxes to have, what public spending to have once we fulfil the Maastricht criteria. And I don't believe that that will change."
Ireland had done well from EU membership and could not now deny others the same chance offered by Nice.
"It paves the way for enlargement of the EU for applicant countries from the Baltic, down through eastern and central Europe and over to the small island states of the Mediterranean.
"We believe that a vote for Nice is a vote for peace, stability and prosperity for Ireland and for all the European continent."
She added: "If I thought Ireland would lose out from the Nice Treaty, I would not recommend people to vote Yes.
"But Ireland will win, not by a handout, or without effort, but by robustly engaging in the policy-making process, by working hard to trade and invest, and by promoting an enterprise culture and a democratic, fair society."
Rejecting the argument that the treaty threatens Irish neutrality, she said any EU member could veto the deployment of any EU military force and every country could decide individually whether to take part in any missions.
"In addition, it would have to be approved by the Dail. I think that that is a very strong guarantee. We can't have it both ways. We can't condemn ethnic cleansing and then fail to be involved as good European citizens in efforts to bring peace and stability."
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, said the Nice Treaty was "about enlargement" and it remained so "despite all efforts by its opponents to deflect from this reality".
The Amsterdam Treaty accepted that major institutional changes would be necessary for the EU to take in more than five new members. "It is irrelevant and a red herring for opponents of Nice to talk about accepting just five new members without the sort of treaty provisions we see in Nice.
"It is of great importance to the countries of the former Soviet bloc and to the other accession countries that they should be able to root themselves firmly in democracy, prosperity and respect for human rights."
