The Lisbon Treaty is a bad deal for Ireland the Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said today.
Speaking at his party's ard fheis in Dublin today Mr Adams said the treaty gives the European Union institutions too much power.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams
"These proposals are about reducing the political clout of the Irish people including the right to stop EU laws that are not in the Irish national interest."
Mr Adams reiterated his party's opposition to the treaty and called on the public to reject it during the upcoming referendum.
"No matter what the Yes camp says Irish citizens can support Europe and be against this treaty".
"You can support Europe and be for greater democracy and accountability. You can support Europe and be for neutrality.
"The Lisbon Treaty is not in Ireland's interest. It should be rejected.
"Ireland's place is in Europe and regardless of the outcome of the referendum Ireland's place is secure" he said.
In a wide ranging speech, Mr Adams also said that the Democratic Unionist leadership must hold firm against hard-line elements within its own party who are actively trying to bring down the Stormont power-sharing executive.
He said the future of the devolved political institutions in Northern Ireland rested on DUP leader Ian Paisley's ability to face down the opponents of the current arrangements.
The West Belfast MP claimed the DUP's reluctance to agree to the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster by the May deadline was being guided by a perceived need to appease unionist hard-liners both inside and outside the party
The Sinn Fein president, who said there seemed to be an pro-active effort to oust the First minister from office, urged his long standing political rival to hold his nerve.
"Most people were uplifted, if a little taken aback, by the visible signs that Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley have a civilised working relationship," he told delegates at Dublin's RDS arena.
"Others within unionism, who are opposed to this process, including some within Ian Paisley's own party, have an opposite view.
"They are against powersharing. And they have been actively seeking to bring it to an end. And that is the context for the refusal to agree the transfer of powers on policing and justice at this time.
"It is a sad commentary on the state of unionism that the focus of some is to force a situation where Ian Paisley must go.
"The political institutions would not be in place if long sighted DUP leaders had not taken the initiative.
"They need to stand up to the rejectionists to ensure the stability and durability of the institutions."
He said the DUP had to deliver on policing and on other commitments outlined in the St Andrews Agreement to protect the Irish language.
"The future of the DUP, the future of unionism, and of the power sharing arrangements will be decided, to a very large extent, by the way DUP leaders deal with these matters," he said.
In an attempt to reassert his party's all-Ireland credentials after its poor electoral showing in the general elections last year, Mr Adams also spoke on various economic and social issues affecting the south.
Tapping into growing pubic concern about political sleaze on both sides of the border, he also reaffirmed his party's commitment to the highest standards in public life.
"Public representatives should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to anyone who might influence them in the carrying out of their duties," he said.
Additional reporting PA