The European Union has wasted much of the time since the constitution was rejected by French and Dutch voters, the president of Slovakia, Ivan Gasparovic, has said.
President Mary McAleese hosted a State dinner for Mr Gasparovic last night at Áras an Uachtaráin .
Earlier, following a meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Mr Gasparovic said the period since the European constitution was rejected "could have been better used". The constitution remained a "very valid document" and must be the basis for any successor to emerge after talks between EU leaders up to 2009.
The EU has to improve its internal working before going ahead with further enlargement: "The larger and more unified the EU will be, the stronger it will be. There is no other coalition quite like it," Mr Gasparovic said.
Asked about efforts in the European parliament to harmonise EU corporate tax rates, Mr Ahern again refused to consider increasing Irish rates: "We are not in favour of it. We have no objections to other member states moving down to the rates used in Ireland, or even below it. That is a matter for them."
At last night's State dinner, Mrs McAleese recalled the Accession Day ceremony in the Áras in May 2004 when the Slovak Republic was admitted to membership of the EU. "A painful chapter of European history closed that day and a new chapter of hope opened," she said.
