SEANAD REPORT:ON PRESENT form, it was very likely that the Taoiseach would "fluff" another referendum, Eugene Regan (FG) said. As minister for foreign affairs, Mr Cowen had been director of elections for the first referendum on the Nice Treaty and he was now responsible for the vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
The Taoiseach had said that Fine Gael and Labour should crank up their campaigns. "It is not fully appreciated how divisive and profound an effect this has had among the electorate. The Taoiseach's remarks represent a defining moment in the campaign. Even if he did not correct the situation in the Dáil, I believe he must mend his hand. If this is turned into a partisan and divisive campaign, we will have a difficulty."
Mr Regan urged Seanad leader Donie Cassidy to reflect on his remarks the previous day following an appeal from the Opposition side of the House that members avoid criticising each other for what they were doing in the referendum campaign. "There is a national interest in ensuring the referendum succeeds."
Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, said she thought they would have to see a change in attitude and co-operation if the treaty was to be passed.
Alex White (Lab) appealed for an end to the sideshow of skirmishing on who was doing more in relation to the referendum.
That type of approach would not get anybody anywhere in terms of achieving a positive result.
David Norris (Ind) said he welcomed the fact that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil were hacking lumps out of each other over the European treaty because it afforded him an opportunity, as practically the lone voice in the House in trying to present a reasoned argument against the treaty, to get himself heard. This was not easy, particularly since The Irish Times had now dropped its stance on neutrality and had committed itself to campaigning for the treaty.
If the Taoiseach and the Irish EU commissioner had not read the treaty, they were not in a position to recommend it.
Responding, Mr Cassidy said that in relation to the treaty campaign,"we look forward to everyone participating on all sides over this weekend, in harmony, and let the facts speak for themselves".