BOOK LAUNCH: FORMER TAOISEACH Garret FitzGerald says not enough was done in the early months of the year by those campaigning for a Yes vote in next month's referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
"During this period a lot of claims were made which were totally untrue. For example, abortion has nothing to do with it.
"We now need a very energetic campaign to undo the damage done in the earlier part of the campaign," he said.
Dr FitzGerald was speaking after the launch of a new book on the treaty which has been published by the Institute of International and European Affairs.
Edited by Tony Brown, Lisbon: What the Reform Treaty Means brings together 12 academics, journalists and public figures who explore the treaty from historical, constitutional, structural, legal, social, environmental, geopolitical and economic dimensions.
"It is wonderful to get a dozen experts in this way to help people understand what this is about," said Dr FitzGerald.
The book aims to provide objective analysis on the treaty and its implications. It concludes with a chapter examining the future of Europe after Lisbon, in the event of either a Yes or No vote.
Also in attendance at the launch last night in the Royal Irish Academy in Dawson Street, Dublin, were the former president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, and the chairman of the institute, Brendan Halligan.
