Youth and student representatives have stepped up efforts to force the Government to hold the forthcoming referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty - and all future elections - on a weekend day.

The National Youth Council launched its campaign for weekend voting last week, arguing that midweek voting effectively disenfranchised young people who were studying or working away from home. "With a declining voter participation evident in the 1997 general and presidential elections, future elections should be held at the weekend," says NYCI president Jillian Hassett. "Democracy cannot be taken for granted."

The NYCI says everything should be done to encourage young people - born and raised in the EEC - to express their views on the EU on this occasion. According to the council, Ireland is one of only four EU member states which continue to use midweek polling days.