Just 11 per cent of people know a referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty is to be held on May 22nd, while 67 per cent have never heard of the treaty, according to research carried out by the Referendum Commission.
These figures highlight the challenge facing the commission in disseminating information on the treaty, its chairman, the former Chief Justice, Mr Justice Tom Finlay, said yesterday.
He was speaking at the start of the commission's Amsterdam Treaty information campaign.
The commission, which was established as an independent statutory body under the Referendum Act 1998, is charged with overseeing the information campaign on the Amsterdam Treaty referendum. It must also facilitate balanced and fair debate.
Mr Justice Finlay said the commission could not hold any public view on the wisdom of holding the Amsterdam Treaty referendum on the same day as the poll on constitutional changes arising from the Northern Ireland Agreement.
However, he said there were two obvious points which arose. On the positive side, he said, "it will have the effect of possibly increasing the numbers going to vote". On the other hand, "it certainly crowds the field for the dissemination of information".
"Considerable competition in newsworthy information is likely to occur in the coming month to vie for space with the Amsterdam Treaty," said Mr Justice Finlay.
He said a postponement of the Amsterdam referendum would not create major problems for the commission. "The material issues will not change. It is merely a question of adjusting the time-scale for its delivery."
He said the commission at the moment had no role in the information campaign on the Northern Ireland Agreement referendum. The Minister for the Environment might make an order directing it to provide such a campaign or he could set up a separate commission.
The commission has produced an explanatory booklet on the treaty, in question and answer format, and intends to post this to all homes within the next week.
A more detailed document will be made available to the public through Citizens' Information Centres and libraries. It can also be obtained by calling an information line set up for the campaign at 1850 774433. The Referendum Commission has a web site whose address is: www.referendum.amsterdam.com.
Near the end of the campaign, the commission will publish a "pros and cons" document, to be written taking into account submissions from the public and interested parties. Such submissions have been sought by the commission in national and regional media advertisements. The closing date for submissions is Friday at 5 30 p.m.
The Commission comprises Mr Justice Finlay, chairman; the Ombudsman, Mr Kevin Murphy; the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Purcell; the clerk of the Dail, Mr Kieran Coughlan; and the clerk of the Seanad, Ms Deirdre Lane.