The Green Party has accused the national media of manipulating their coverage of the Nice Treaty debate in an attempt to secure a Yes vote in the referendum.
In a strong attack on perceived journalistic bias, Ms Patricia McKenna MEP said that RTÉ and the print media were distorting the arguments being made in order to have the referendum carried.
Claiming the media took different approaches to each side's argument, she said: "If it's on the Yes side it gets full coverage. But if it's something that gives credibility to the No side then you distort it or don't cover it properly." While criticising RTÉ, she added: "It's worse in the print media."
She was speaking at a press conference yesterday at which the Green Party launched its campaign strategy for the forthcoming Nice Treaty referendum.
The party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, called on the Taoiseach to engage in head-to-head debates with No campaigners such as himself, rather than confine himself to "direct and unchallenged appeals to the camera" seeking a Yes vote.
Party chairman Mr John Gormley said they believed the obligation on RTÉ to give equal coverage to both sides would help the No campaign get its message across. He said that while they were not seeking a No vote on the basis that the Government should be punished, there was an issue of trust involved.
"When the Taoiseach says he wants to contest it like a general election we presume he means he wants to go about making false promises, misleading people and lying through his teeth," he said.
He warned those who voted No last time not to be downcast at the fact that another referendum was taking place and stay at home this time.
"They should come out and pay the Government back for the contempt they have shown for the electorate by running it a second time," Mr Gormley said.
Ms McKenna maintained that the EU already had plans to ensure that an Irish No vote would not affect the process of enlargement of the European Union, but the Irish people were not being told about them.
"Mr Prodi [the President of the European Commission] said the Nice Treaty is not necessary for enlargement, while Giscard d'Estaing, President of the Convention on Europe, said if the Irish people vote No other solutions will be found. The Irish voters have a right to know if the Commission, or EU member states, are already discussing these 'solutions'."