The Government has warned that ratification of the Lisbon Treaty is "critically important" for Ireland's economic future.
Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche today launched a guide as part of the Government's information campaign to explain the EU's Reform Treaty to the public ahead of the forthcoming referendum.
Minister for Europe Dick Roche
"There is no way the Government would have negotiated anything that was detrimental to our interests," Mr Roche said.
He accused Sinn Féin and other elements of the No campaign of distorting the facts and "mendaciously representing what's in the treaty".
"Contrary, to what the No camp will say, there is absolutely nothing in this treaty that should cause concern," Mr Roche said.
"Above all, the substance of the treaty was largely made in Ireland during the 2004 Irish presidency and there's no way in which the Government would have negotiated anything which is detrimental to our interests.
"Ireland's interests are undoubtedly best served by continued engagement in Europe. There's no future for us as a standalone nation cut adrift from Europe."
Echoing comments by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen yesterday, Mr Roche warned of the economic consequences of a No vote.
"There's no doubt rejection is not a cost-free option for Ireland," he told a press conference in Government Buildings.
"I would fear for our future if we were to turn our backs on Europe or if we were to create the impression that we were turning our backs on Europe."
Mr Roche said it was "unequivocally the case" that when the treaty is ratified "Europe will be an even more democratic place than it is today".
The Minister said the guide identifies the new responsibilities that are being conferred on the EU and also the limits of the EU's competence. It specifically addressed issues such as Ireland's military neutrality, he said.
Mr Roche said there was "no benefit" in frustrating the European Union when it is "more or less unanimous" on the treaty.
"There is no doubt about it, a No vote would actually gravely question our commitment to Europe and would damage the standing that we have established over 35 years in Europe."
Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said today she will challenge Mr Roche at today's Oireachtas Committee on European
on his decision not to distribute the Lisbon Treaty to households prior to the referendum.
"Ironically government will today launch their own guide to the Lisbon Treaty but are shamefully refusing to distribute a consolidated version of the Treaty to households across the state.
"The Lisbon Treaty will be the last institutional reform of the European Union for some time. It is proposing fundamental changes to how the EU community does business with itself and the wider world. Considering this it is hard to fathom the rationale of the government's decision not to distribute the Treaty to households across the state. Such a decision begs the question, what have they to hide?"
Mr Roche said today, however, he was "looking at" the issue and he believed there was a responsibility to "put something in every door". He said the Government would ensure the guide published today gets "the widest possible circulation".
"Anybody who reads the guide will become well acquainted with the Reform Treaty."
The Minister added that there would also be a Referendum Commission but that this could not come into being until the legislation was passed.
Speaking separately on the issue today, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he believed Ireland's future is "best served by membership of a European Union which functions even more efficiently and effectively", as envisaged by the Lisbon treaty.
Speaking at the Royal Irish Academy to mark the publication of a book on Ireland's economy and its prospects, Mr Ahern said: "I am convinced that the Irish people want full Irish engagement in a Europe that will be improved and reinvigorated by the Reform Treaty, that will continue to support social and economic development and job creation, and that will play a lead role in rising to the global challenges of the 21 stcentury."
Yesterday, the Cabinet approved a draft of the Referendum Bill setting out the broad terms of the constitutional amendment on the Lisbon Treaty which will be put to the electorate in late May or early June.
Discussions will now take place between Mr Roche and the pro-treaty Opposition parties, Fine Gael and Labour, in order to get agreement on the final wording of the Bill .
It is expected that the final draft of the Bill will be approved by the Cabinet in two weeks and that it will be debated by the Dáil as soon as possible after that. The referendum would then be held on a Thursday or a Friday in the last week in May or the first week in June.