Constitution 'likely to be passed by all EU states'
Launching a guide to the constitution in Dublin yesterday, Mr Ahern dismissed concerns that Irish people did not understand what the document was about.
"It is always the case that people are not really informed on Europe until it affects them," he said, adding that the detailed knowledge acquired by farmers and others affected was amazing.
The EU constitution, which was agreed during Ireland's presidency earlier this year, replaces all of the existing EU treaties and provides a new legal basis for the entire union.
The document will be formally signed by EU leaders in Rome tomorrow.
Although all 25 member states have to ratify the constitution before November 1, 2006, Mr Ahern gave no date for the Irish referendum, saying he wanted to ensure a long and productive national dialogue on the issue first.
Mr Ahern said the consequence of rejecting the constitution would mean the people of Ireland would be rejecting the entire future of the EU.
"To reject that would be an enormous setback in any country," he said. Describing the first Nice referendum as "a bit of a dog's dinner" left over from previous EU treaties, Mr Ahern said the new constitution was a far easier document to explain and sell.
"This is different. This is the culmination of all that has happened since the Treaty of Rome," he said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said that while the constitution includes many reforms, it does not fundamentally change the relationship between member states and the EU.
"It consolidates the tangle of existing treaties in a single text. It respects and essentially maintains the current policy mix and institutional framework."
He said the process of reviewing and renegotiating EU treaties, which had left most people baffled, should now be completed for at least a generation.
"In the constitution there are no leftovers requiring fresh negotiation in a year or so.
"Moreover, it has the flexibility within it to cope with future change," he said.
The explanatory documents launched yesterday - a short information leaflet and a more detailed explanatory guide - will be circulated in schools, public offices, libraries, posted on the Government website, and sent to community organisations around the country.
The Government will also publish a White Paper on the European Constitution next year.
SINCE the foundation of the EU in the 1950s, the rules governing the union have been set out in a series of treaties beginning with the founding Treaty of Rome.
Over time, all treaties have been amended, with the co-operation of member states and following referendums such as those held in Ireland to ratify the Nice Treaty.
Spurred on by the addition of 10 new member states in May, and the likelihood of more new members in the future, the new EU Constitution - which was agreed during Ireland's presidency - brings together all previous treaties in a single text.
The text of the constitution is to be the basic legal document reflecting and regulating the new realities of Europe.
In addition, the constitution introduces some elements of institutional reform, such as an EU foreign minister, a new full-time president of the European Council and a new voting system in the Council of Ministers to make decision-making more efficient.
Ireland's main concerns during negotiations focused on four areas, all of which were taken into consideration and accounted for in the new constitution. Consequently, tax decisions remain a matter only for the Irish Government, while Ireland's distinctive legal system is protected.
Ireland's neutrality has also been protected while Irish concerns over the right balance between the EU institutions and equality in the commission was also realised.
Information is available from www.dfa.ie
Alternatively call 1890 426700 to order a copy of the Government's explanatory leaflet.
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