The referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is likely to take place on Thursday May 29th or Thursday June 5th, according to informed sources. The Taoiseach told the Dáil yesterday that deputies should not plan their holidays for the first two weeks in June.
The debate on the treaty intensified yesterday, with charge and countercharge between the Government and Sinn Féin.
Speaking at the launch of a guide to the treaty in Irish and English, Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche said: "Anybody who reads the guide will become well acquainted with the treaty."
He added that the guide explained "how the treaty will impact on the union's external role and explains how Ireland's military neutrality and our economically vital corporate taxation regime remain absolutely secure and protected".
A consolidated text of the EU treaties is to be published today and a copy will be available in every public library. A White Paper analysing the provisions of the treaty is being prepared for publication next month.
Responding to suggestions by the No side that the Government was wrongly using public funds by publishing what critics would describe as a biased account of the treaty, Mr Roche said: "It is important that the people know the facts. These are the facts, plain and unadorned."
Criticising Sinn Féin, which opposes the treaty, he said: "They have distorted the facts, they have mendaciously misrepresented what is in this treaty and it is important that the Irish people know the truth."
Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald told a news conference at Leinster House: "The State has an obligation to distribute impartial and fully accurate information and the only way they can do that is by making the treaty text available.
"As things stand, the document is only available at a cost of €42. It's not the consolidated version. I am at a loss to see why the State does not intervene and circulate the document," she added.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern announced yesterday that information on the treaty was being made available in a format accessible to blind and visually-impaired people.
This audio material can be obtained in CD, cassette and Braille formats by calling a lo-call number, 1850 211602; by e-mailing reformtreaty@dfa.ie, or by contacting the National Council for the Blind on 1850 334353.
Mr Ahern said: "...I would urge members of the public to take full advantage of the information available. It may be a complex treaty, but the issues are quite straightforward. This coming referendum is about Ireland's future within a more effective European Union," the Minister added.
Meanwhile, the Government has been warned by a farm leader it is facing an "unmerciful shock" unless a serious and coherent effort is mounted immediately to convince the electorate of the merits of a Yes vote.
Mr Jackie Cahill, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, said he was "spectacularly unconvinced" by the campaign waged so far.
"I am personally in favour of the treaty and am quite optimistic that our national council will come out in its favour. But I am spectacularly unconvinced by the quality of the Yes campaign so far," he said.
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