Only 16 per cent of respondents to a poll carried out by the Referendum Commission felt they adequately understood the subject matter of the Treaty of Nice.
Mr Justice Tom Finlay, Chairman of the Commission, announced the startling poll results while outlining the forthcoming information campaign on the Treaty of Nice at the Commission's offices in Dublin today.
The results of the telephone poll, which measured the attitudes of 300 people, will underline the extent of the challenge facing the Commission as it tries to raise public awareness and attempts to maximise the numbers of people who turn out to vote on the Treaty.
The poll found that only 28 per cent of those under 24 years of age intend to vote on the Treaty with as much as 78 per cent of those over the age of 55 intending to vote.
The poll also found that over 40 per cent of respondents were not able to articulate any issue relating to the Treaty while enlargement and neutrality were of prime concern to those who were.
Joe Higgins T.D. of the Socialist Party has said he was not surprised at the results of the poll and that it 'results from deliberate failure of Government and EU to spell out [it's] clear implications.'
He said the suspicion was that the Government 'doesn't want to do this as many people might find the actual proposals explained in a very concrete way to be deeply intimidating.'
A comprehensive media campaign has been planned by the Referendum Commission to increase awareness of the Treaty and will include both print, electronic and broadcast media.
The main focus of the campaign will centre around television and radio advertising which will coincide with the delivery of two booklets to each household in the country.
The first booklet will explain the EU and how it works and will be delivered to each home in the coming week.
The second will detail information on the Treaty itself and will be delivered to each home during the fortnight before the referendum.
It is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to decide whether to establish a Referendum Commission on each occasion a referendum is called.
The Commission was established on July 9th of this year.
The National Forum on Europe roadshow is to hold a public meeting in County Donegal tomorrow. Two of the most prominent figures on either side of the vote will attend.
The YES side will be represented by Justice Minister, Michael McDowell with the NO side represented by Anthony Coughlan of the National Platform.
The Forum Chairman, Mr Maurice Hayes says that 'one disappointing and disturbing factor was the low level of turnout, countrywide, in the referendum.'
The role of the National Forum on Europe is to provide an objective, neutral space where people can have their say but also listen to arguments.