The four referendums planned by the Government will go ahead on June 7th, provided the necessary legislation has passed through the Oireachtas by tonight.
A Government spokesman confirmed last night that provided there were no further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth in the State the disease would not be a factor in whether they went ahead or not.
Provided, he said, that all "practical, legal and constitutional" requirements could be met, the referendums would go ahead on Thursday, June 7th, simultaneously.
They will be on the Treaty of Nice, the abolition of the death penalty, the regulation of judicial conduct and Irish participation in the proposed International Criminal Court.
Legislation to permit the holding of the votes is expected to clear both houses of the Oireachtas by tonight, following which the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, will announce the date, which must be at least 30 days after the legislation has been passed at Leinster House.
A total of £5.5 million has been allocated to the Referendum Commission to finance the impartial dissemination of information before the referendums.