The Polish ambassador to Ireland has pleaded with the electorate to "be generous" and "support enlargement" when voting on the Nice Treaty.
Mr Witold Sobkow said he did not want to interfere in the "internal debate" on Nice in the Republic but he wanted to stress the treaty was, contrary to some suggestions, "simply" about enlargement.
He emphasised that Poland provided a market of 39 million people and its land cost only one-tenth of the EU average. And there was a clear majority in Poland in favour of enlargement.
"The latest figure is 64 per cent in favour," he said.
Mr Sobkow's comments came during a meeting of the National Forum on Europe, in Thurles on Monday night. The forum is travelling the State to offer people the opportunity to express their views on the EU and an enlarged union.
A mixed age-group of around 80 people, mostly men, attended. Speakers from the floor expressed views for and against Nice in equal numbers.
Mr Michael Byrne, Templemore, criticised the Tipperary South Independent TD, Mr Seamus Healy, for urging people to vote against the treaty to punish the Government for cutbacks.
Mr Byrne said the people of Eastern Europe were held back for years by communism. "Why does he want to punish them again?"
Mr William Fogarty, also from Templemore, said Mr Healy was suggesting if one had a bad day at work they should go home and kick the dog. This made no sense.
Responding, Mr Healy said those being kicked were the patients on trolleys in hospital A&E departments.
Mr Frank Maher, from Tipperary town, said there would be less for Irish farmers if the EU was enlarged. He said wages in Eastern European countries applying for EU membership were only one-third those in Ireland, and that factories locating to the EU zone would go where wages were low.
Mr Gay Mitchell, Fine Gael's spokesman on Foreign Affairs, said he was horrified at the Government's cuts but he was not going to visit his spite on the people of Eastern Europe.
Mr Denis Ryan from Thurles said a No vote would not stop enlargement.