In the second of a two-part series on who is spending what, Deaglán de Bréadún reports on the Yes campaign.
The feebleness of the Yes campaign was blamed for the defeat of the Nice Treaty in the first referendum last year.
This time, big money is being spent and big names are turning out to spread the message. Today's launch of the Irish Farmers' Association campaign at a cost of about €150,000 brings estimated total Yes expenditure to €1.68 million compared to €170,500 on the No side.
Expenditure by other groups and institutions not officially campaigning for either side amounts to more than €5 million.
Fianna Fáil: The biggest party spent about €60,000 in the first referendum, but this is increasing to €500,000 this time. There was a bump in the road when the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, had to take over as director of the campaign after Mr P.J. Mara came in for unfavourable mention in the Flood tribunal report. A campaign office and press centre have been set up in Dublin's Pembroke Street.
IBEC: The employers' group has launched a campaign of outdoor advertising on billboards, bus shelters and buses featuring two small children and the slogan: "Vote Yes to Jobs for Them." Donations from semi-State companies to IBEC's €500,000 campaign have provoked solicitors' letters from the Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, alleging a breach of the law against public funding for either side.
Fine Gael: The main Opposition party has organised 16 public meetings throughout the State. Expenditure will be about €150,000, which is provided from party funds. Young Fine Gael is conducting its own campaign, complete with a saucy poster.
Progressive Democrats: The PDs are running a strong campaign, led by the Minister of State, Mr Tom Parlon, and featuring posters, press conferences, speeches and media contributions. Estimated expenditure is €125,000 from party funds.
Irish Alliance for Europe: A voluntary organisation chaired by Prof Brigid Laffan. Funding comes from private and corporate donations, and total expenditure is expected to be about €100,000. Its best-known affiliated groups are Ireland for Europe with an expenditure of about €4,500, and Women for a Yes Vote.
Irish Farmers' Association: The IFA is spending about €150,000 promoting a Yes vote. It has written to all 85,000 members, and advertisements are being taken out in 32 provincial papers.
IFSC for Yes: Based in Dublin's International Financial Services Centre, this group is chaired by Mr Willie Slattery, chief executive of Deutsche International Ireland bank. Expenditure is estimated at €25,000, raised from private donations and fund-raising events.
Labour Party: Mr Ruairí Quinn is urging voters to "hold fire" against Fianna Fáil for now and let Nice through. The election of a new leader may distract party activists from any pro-Nice effort. Estimated expenditure from party funds is €25,000.
Dublin Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber is distributing information packs to member-firms who are being asked to pass on the "good word" to the workforce. Estimated campaign expenditure, including contributions in kind, is about €100,000 drawn from Chamber resources.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU): The executive council, representing member-unions, is calling for a Yes vote, and there are plans for leaflets and a seminar. The general secretary, Mr David Begg, says expenditure will be only about €500 and that the leaflets will be paid for by the various unions.
OTHER EXPENDITURE
Government of Ireland: The Government has spent some €750,000 on the preparation and distribution of a White Paper and explanatory leaflet on Nice. It rejects criticisms of anti-Nice campaigners who say this is advocacy, not information.
Members of the European Parliament: Labour's Mr Proinsias De Rossa is sponsoring a pro-Nice poster campaign, which will cost about €40,000, and the Green Party's Ms Patricia McKenna has already spent some €41,000 advocating a No vote. Other MEPs playing a prominent role include the President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, for the Yes side, and the Connacht-Ulster Independent, Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon, who is voting No. Ireland's 15 MEPs are entitled to an information allowance, totalling €500,000 annually, which can be spent in referendums on European issues.
Referendum Commission: This body, chaired by Mr Justice Thomas Finlay, has a budget of some €4.2 million for advertisements, pamphlets etc, providing information about the referendum and encouraging voter turnout. It no longer has a role in putting the arguments from both sides. There has been some sharp criticism from the No side, which claims the message is sometimes slanted in favour of a Yes vote.
European Movement Ireland: Passers-by are invited to drop into its offices at 32 Nassau Street, Dublin, to receive what the organisation describes as "factual information" on the treaty. Information meetings have been held throughout the State. Yesterday the movement hosted what was in effect a rally for a Yes vote, featuring Ireland's European Commissioners, past and present, with an admission fee of €60. The movement receives public and private funds but says no Government or EU money is being used for its information campaign.
Institute of European Affairs: Sources of funding for the IEA's range of activities include Government Departments and the Revenue Commissioners as well as private and semi-State companies, including The Irish Times and other media organisations such as RTÉ and Independent Newspapers. Based in Dublin's North Great George's Street, the IEA has produced 12 booklets on issues arising from the Nice Treaty and, more recently, a set of briefing documents was launched by the Taoiseach. "They are not advocating a Yes or No vote, they are an analysis of the main issues," a spokesman said, but the No side rejects this as "disingenuous".
National Forum on Europe: Chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes, the forum was set up to meet the demand for public debate on European issues. It is near the end of its autumn schedule of 14 public meetings. Despite a broad agenda, Nice was the inevitable focus, and the cost is estimated at €224,000.