Former Justice Minister Michael McDowell has said that Ireland's interests would be served by a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
For more: RTÉ.ie/Lisbon
He made his comments at the launch of the 'Solicitors for Europe' group in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.
In his first major political statement since losing his Dáil seat in 2007, Mr McDowell described himself as a 'Euro-realist'.
He said the Lisbon Treaty does not create an EU state or create an unstoppable slide into such a state.
Mr McDowell criticised the 'Punch and Judy' nature of the debate so far and said he was speaking in a personal capacity.
He based his comments on a detailed analysis of judgments delivered by the Czech and German constitutional courts on the issue of member state sovereignty.
Ireland will vote in a second Lisbon Treaty referendum on 2 October.
Cowen reitierates economic message
The Taoiseach has once again insisted that a vote for the Lisbon Treaty will protect jobs and help position Ireland for the international recovery.
Launching Fianna Fáil's campaign posters in Dublin, Mr Cowen said the Irish economy was based on trade and any improvement in our export position was linked to Lisbon.
Mr Cowen said that a Yes vote could have a galvanising effect and it could send a signal internationally that Ireland is moving on.
The Referendum Commission said that voters now had a greater understanding of the issues than during last year's campaign.
However, Chairman Judge Frank Clarke said claims that ratifying the treaty would affect job levels were political statements about which people might have different views.
Higgins criticises campaign of fear
Dublin MEP Joe Higgins has accused the Government of trying to terrify people into voting Yes.
Mr Higgins said: 'The whole campaign of the Government and most of the Yes organisations is predicated on fear.
'They are trying to terrify the Irish people that a No vote will mean a worse economic collapse and they are trying to give the positive corollary of that, that somehow it will mean an amazing transformation of the economy.'
Mr Higgins was speaking on RTÉ's The Week In Politics, which will be broadcast tonight.
The Socialist Party leader, who is campaigning for a No vote, also described the timing of the visit of EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso as 'utter cynicism'.
He said the financial package announced by Mr Barroso for over 2,000 Dell workers, who lost their jobs earlier this year, was money already available for training and education.
'It was timed to come a week before the Lisbon Treaty as a further plug for the Yes campaign,' he said.
Fine Gael launches billboard campaign
Elsewhere, Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny has unveiled his party's billboard poster campaign.
He announced that the party will hold Lisbon meetings in each constituency tomorrow.
Mr Kenny said: 'On my tour of the country I detect a growing positive mood towards the Lisbon Treaty.
'More and more people are telling me they have a greater understanding of the issues involved.
'I am hopeful that our positive campaign over the next two weeks will convince people of the importance of staying at the heart of Europe.'
