Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern today said he expects Ireland to ratify the EU Reform Treaty despite an opinion poll showing only 25 per cent of the electorate intend to vote for it in next year's referendum.
An The Irish Times/TNS Mrbi opinion poll published this morning found 13 per cent of people will vote against the Treaty agreed in Lisbon last month, while a massive 62 per cent say they don't know or have no opinion.
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald
Ireland is the only member State that must hold a referendum on the treaty which proposes reforms that increase central power and is intended to create a more efficient administration.
Speaking today, Mr Ahern said that once the information campaign begins, he expects the undecided vote to swing in favour of ratification.
"The fact that only 13 per cent intend to vote No is encouraging for those of us who will be campaigning strongly for a Yes vote.
"This treaty is inevitably complex but it is a good treaty, based firmly on what we negotiated in 2004. It is a treaty in which all key Irish interests are fully reflected. Its ratification will be good for Europe and good for Ireland.
Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins said the campaign must be user-friendly. He said the poll shows the public do not understand the issues and that unrelated matters are apparently causing concern for voters.
The fears of these people highlight just how the Government has failed to use its influence to address these concerns at EU level," Mr Timmins said.
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said the poll findings reflected a failure to engage the public "in a meaningful process of dialogue".
"There has been no broad political debate with the Irish people on the future of Europe. Government has sought to bamboozle or bore citizens into submission when it comes to matters on Europe," Ms McDonald said.
In a comparable poll on the EU Constitutional Treaty in March 2005, 46 per cent said they would vote Yes as against 12 per cent who would vote No and 42 per cent who had no opinion.
The Reform Treaty was developed after the Constitutional Treaty fell apart after being rejected by the French and Dutch electorates. Britain is the only other member state that may put the new treaty to the people, although it is not a certainty.
A defeat would not just embarrass the Government but would throw the whole process of EU reform into disarray again.