A clear majority of people said they are likely to vote in favour of the next month's referendum on the Nice Treaty, in the first opinion poll conducted since the date of the ballot was announced.
Of those questioned in the Irish Times/MRBI poll, 52 per cent indicated they were likely to vote 'yes' on June 7th, with 21 per cent coming out against the treaty.
The remaining 27 per cent said they had no opinion.
The survey also revealed current ignorance about the implications of the treaty, with just one in three voters claiming "some" or "good" understanding of the issues.
The treaty, which paves the way for European Union expansion into the former communist block states of central and eastern Europe, is supported by the three main political parties.
A 'no' vote, which is being sought by Sinn Fein, the Greens and Socialists, would result in the collapse of the treaty.
The Taoiseach launched Fianna Fail's campaign for a 'yes' vote yesterday and said: "Those campaigning against the Nice Treaty are ideological bedfellows of the Tory Euro-sceptics."
Those opposed to ratification claim it will compromise Irish neutrality and pave the way for the creation of a European superstate.
The survey revealed that just 11 per cent said they had a "good understanding" of the issues at stake. Twenty-six per cent said they had some understanding, 30 per cent said the issues were "not understood", while 32 per cent said they were "vaguely aware" of the implications of their vote.
The treaty must be ratified by the 15 EU parliaments and the European Parliament by the end of 2002.
PA