More referendum news and diary dates.
EVENTS TODAY
From 10.45amFianna Fáil Yes Bus visits Roscommon.
11amTaoiseach Brian Cowen to deliver keynote address at plenary session of the National Forum on Europe. Dublin Castle.
3pmDemocratic Alliance for a No Vote, highlights issues of concern to farmers, launches anti-Lisbon Treaty campaign. Buswells Hotel, Dublin.
6.30pmBusiness Alliance, pro-Lisbon Treaty, information roadshow. Tower Hotel, Waterford.
8pmWorkers' Party, Cork region, public meeting: "Lisbon - A Treaty Too Far!" Victoria Hotel, Cork.
Eurovision's No to Dustin should spark Yes to Lisbon, says Kenny
Following Dustin's premature exit from the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny says he hopes the electorate will vote Yes to Lisbon, to ensure Ireland has more of a presence in Europe than in the Eurovision.
Speaking in Blackrock, Dublin, at the unveiling of one of two "opinionators", Mr Kenny said he was "totally distraught" that Dustin had not made it to the Eurovision final on Saturday.
"He was gobbled up by the opposition," he told The Irish Times. "Maybe he'd have made it if the contest had been in Lisbon but we can ensure now we'll have more say in European issues if we vote in favour of Lisbon, than Dustin has had."
The "opinionator" - described as an "interactive Fine Gael poster" - allows people to register their view on the Lisbon Treaty by pressing a Yes or No button. A tally is kept of each time either Yes or No is pressed. There are no rules about how many times one can press the buttons, so the message is clear: "Press early and press often."
Yesterday afternoon, 187 Yes votes had been registered, compared with 124 No votes.
In addition to the one in the Blackrock shopping centre, there is one of these high-tech devices at the Ilac Centre in Dublin's Henry Street.
Mr Kenny said the purpose was to engage people and remind them the poll is happening on June 12th. "I believe the campaign is going very well though it's difficult to get people engaged. We hope this helps."
Handbooks on treaty delivered
The last batch of Referendum Commission handbooks on the Lisbon Treaty was being delivered to homes across Ireland yesterday.
The commission is an independent body charged with providing the public with information about the treaty ahead of polling on June 12th.
The handbook, The Lisbon Treaty - Get the Complete Picture, is also available in local authority offices and public libraries in every county, as well as in third-level colleges throughout the country.
Speaking yesterday, commission chairman Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill said: "This information is independent and impartial and will help the Irish people to inform themselves on the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty over the next three weeks."
Offaly councillors support treaty
Offaly has said Yes to the Lisbon Treaty, which is just the kind of support Brian Cowen has come to expect from his home county.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil after his election to the post on May 7th that his immediate task was to ensure ratification of the treaty.
Offaly county councillors duly took note at their meeting on Monday night, voting to support the treaty by a margin of 14 to two.