The Government's programme for the EU presidency was criticised by Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan).
He claimed it had "disappointed Irish hopes for a distinctive and progressive presidency which could be a source of pride to our people". That failure reflected the Government's lack of vision and political will when it came to Europe.
Mr Ó Caoláin said that 85 years ago, on January 21st, 1919, the first Dáil had met and declared the independence of the Republic.
"Eighty-five years later, it is a sad reality that many in the political establishment here are more concerned with creating a united states of Europe than they are about completing the work of the first Dáil and achieving a united Ireland.
"In the Irish presidency programme, the Government speaks of the historic ending of the post-war division of Europe. What about ending the division of Ireland?"
The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said addressing the Euratom treaty should be given clear priority. The draft protocol simply amended aspects of the treaty, and the aspects promoting nuclear energy remained.
"This will permit the continued provision of special and exclusive help to nuclear energy producers. Groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are arguing, as we are, for the scrapping of this protocol."
Mr Sargent said his party was very concerned that the new EU constitution would boost the armaments industry by establishing a European armaments and military capabilities agency which would encourage and support EU arms industries.
"Boosting armaments in this way represents a regressive step in terms of the implications domestically and, lethally, internationally."
Former Fine Gael Taoiseach Mr John Bruton said while he was not sure where the Government stood on the matter, the idea of a 25 or 30-person Commission seemed ludicrous.
"It could not work other than on the basis of its president being semi-dictator, and there would be no real collegial discussions. Fifteen is about the maximum number possible. As somebody who has chaired a diverse government, I know something about this."
Ms Marian Harkin (Independent, Sligo-Leitrim) said the Government would host a conference on HIV-AIDS next month. "I suggest to the Minister that there is a direct link between HIV-AIDS and debt cancellation."
She said debt reduction could be used as a vehicle to help in the fight against HIV-AIDS.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dick Roche, said it should be remembered that the EU, for all its frustrations and warts, had given the European continent its longest period of peace, stability and progress in its history.
"The Irish presidency has an extremely ambitious programme, and nobody should be under any illusions about that. We have big challenges to meet, and we have not set the hurdle low for ourselves. It has been set high."
