The Minister for Foreign Affairs has warned voters against rejecting a new EU treaty, saying critics were using the same myths as when the country vetoed a former pact.
Dermot Ahern said Ireland could not turn its back on the European Union in a referendum on the new Lisbon Treaty this year, unlike in 2001 when the Nice Treaty was rejected.
Ireland is the only state in the 27-member bloc constitutionally bound to hold a popular vote on the treaty.
'We firmly believe that the reform treaty is the best option for the union and that it represents a very favorable deal for Ireland, one that we played a major role in shaping', he told the Institute for European Affairs in Dublin.
'Our opponents - when you peel back the re-branding, re-modelling, re-financing - are the same old groups, the same tired old interests re-telling the same old myths,' he said.
'The extremes of Irish and European political discourse oppose this treaty as they have opposed all such treaties for reasons of dogma and narrow self-interest.
'It's a case of same arguments - different treaty,' he added.
No date has yet been set for the Irish referendum, but it is expected to be held in May or June.
The Lisbon Treaty was signed amid much fanfare in the Portuguese capital in December and aims to prevent decision-making gridlock in the expanding organisation.
An Irish 'No' vote in a referendum could topple the blueprint, which replaces a rejected constitution to end years of wrangling about institutional reform for the bloc.
Mr Ahern, in one of the first major speeches about alluding to the referendum, listed the advantages that EU membership has brought Ireland, in particular its economic benefits.
Sinn Féin has said it sees itself as leading the charge for a No vote.
Donegal councillor Padraic McLochlainn will head its campaign and despite their absence today, the party says the Northern leadership will be centrally involved.
The main thrust of the party's message is that a No vote would not have any major implications for this country.
