A look at the opposing sides in the run-up to the Lisbon Treaty referendum
FIANNA FÁIL
Up to the start of its campaign proper last week,
Fianna Fáil had been largely relying on Minister of State for
European Affairs Dick Roche to put the Yes message across.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen has promised a robust campaign in which every
elected representative will participate. It will be "the most
extensive referendum campaign undertaken by Fianna Fáil in
many years", he said at the launch last week. By referendum day the
party will have held 50 public meetings and a number of "action
days" in constituencies. The Taoiseach will also travel the country
with other members of Government in a campaign bus.
FINE GAEL
The main Opposition party has been campaigning since
early March when it started holding public meetings on the
referendum. Led by MEP Gay Mitchell and the party's spokesperson on
European Affairs Lucinda Creighton TD, the campaign will cost about
€500,000. By June 12th, the party says it will have held
almost 50 public meetings around the country and distributed more
than 500,000 pieces of literature explaining the treaty. Young Fine
Gael is conducting its own campaign, complete with two somewhat
risque posters. Party leader Enda Kenny is urging supporters to
"hold their fire" against Fianna Fáil for now and let the
treaty pass. He has also called on farmers to refrain from using
their vote on the treaty as a means of influencing the current
world trade talks.
LABOUR PARTY
It decided to campaign for a Yes vote even before
the Lisbon Treaty was signed by European heads of government in
December. The Labour Party will pay particular focus on the Charter
of Fundamental Rights, which becomes legally binding if the treaty
is ratified, during its campaign. The party's spokesperson on
European affairs, Joe Costello, will manage a campaign that he
promises will have a strong focus on door-to-door canvassing in
addition to extensive outdoor advertising and leafleting.
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS
PD leader Ciarán Cannon launched its campaign
in favour of the treaty last week, announcing that members of the
parliamentary party, councillors, party officers and general
membership would participate. In addition to a poster campaign, the
party will distribute more than 250,000 leaflets detailing six
reasons to vote Yes. It is expected to focus particularly on the
economic benefits of Ireland's membership of the EU.
IRISH ALLIANCE FOR EUROPE
Chaired by former Labour leader Ruairí Quinn,
the Irish Alliance for Europe (IAE) is a non-party, civil society
group funded by private donations. Made up of individuals and
organisations from a variety of backgrounds, its members include
business people, lawyers, trade unionists, academics, farmers and
students. These groups are formed into "pillars". Among the 34
member organisations of its business "pillar" the Business Alliance
for Europe are Ibec, the Construction Industry Federation, the
Irish Banking Federation and the Irish Exporters Association.
Former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox and former
Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald will participate in the IAE drive for a
Yes vote. It has already rolled out an extensive nationwide poster
campaign. Launching the campaign earlier this month, Ruairí
Quinn said the IAE would focus in particular on correcting No
campaigners' "distortions and misrepresentations" of the
treaty.
BUSINESS
The Irish Business and Employers Confederation
(Ibec) and other business organisations such as the Small Firms
Association and several chambers of commerce are campaigning for a
Yes vote. Launching its campaign last month Ibec said the treaty is
vital to ensure growth in the Irish economy at an increasingly
challenging time.
It argues the treaty will encourage more foreign investment and says it will also help support Irish exporters under pressure at the moment due to the weakness of the US dollar. A prominent member of the Business Alliance for Europe, Ibec recently launched a national poster campaign.