Ireland's name "will be mud in Brussels" if the Nice Treaty is rejected, according to Fine Gael. The party also said Ireland's neutrality will not be affected by the treaty and a No vote in the upcoming referendum would be a "disaster".
Speaking at the launch of Fine Gael's Yes vote campaign today party leader Mr Michael Noonan said: "It would be a disaster for us if the Nice Treaty is lost as it is very important to the strategic future of Ireland".
He called on the Government to ensure a Yes vote was carried in the referendum.
"The primary responsibility for a successful referendum rests on their shoulders," he said and criticised Tánaiste Ms Mary Harney's so-called "euro-scepticism" that he said was time for her to leave aside.
He said if the treaty was not passed in Ireland it would not be successful elsewhere in Europe. Ireland's reputation in the EU would be severely damaged.
"If we lose the Nice Treaty our name will be mud in Brussels," he said.
Meanwhile Fine Gael MEP Mr John Cushnahan told ireland.comhe believed neutrality would not be affected by the treaty.
He said Ireland's defence position would not be affected by the Nice Treaty because a UN mandate would be required in order for Irish soldiers to join any Rapid Reaction Force.
He said such a force would only be used in the instance of humanitarian crises which would be judged on a case-by-case basis and Ireland would retain the right to refuse participation by Irish soldiers at any stage.
The June 7th referendums will ask the general public to vote on the Treaty of Nice, the International Criminal Court and the death penalty.