A look at the opposing sides in the run-up to the Lisbon Treaty referendum
SINN FÉIN
Sinn Féin is the only Dáil party
campaigning for a No vote. It played a key role in the campaign
against the Nice Treaty and got an early start in the Lisbon debate
by launching its campaign in February. The campaign director is
Donegal councillor Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, but Dublin MEP Mary
Lou McDonald is the face of the party's drive against the
treaty.
Stressing that the party believes Ireland's place is in Europe, Sinn Féin has pushed the "Vote No for a Better Yes" argument, while raising concerns about the treaty's impact on workers' rights, neutrality and Ireland's ability to stop policies that are not in its interests. The party will distribute more than 500,000 pamphlets setting out the party's case.
The smaller Republican Sinn Féin party is also campaigning for a No vote.
LIBERTAS
The new kid on the block in the No camp, Libertas
was founded by Tuam-based businessman Declan Ganley. Executive
director Naoise Nunn says its campaign aims to target "people in
the mainstream parties who have their doubts".
Libertas launched its campaign the day the treaty was signed in Lisbon last December and has since run a national billboard campaign.
A major focus of its campaign has been claims that the Lisbon Treaty could enable a challenge to Ireland's low corporate tax rates.
Aviation entrepreneur Ulick McEvaddy has publicly endorsed its campaign and one of Libertas's directors, president-elect of Chambers Ireland Dr Chris Coughlan, last week expressed his personal opposition to the treaty, a position at odds with the majority of members of Chambers Ireland.
PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT
Former Green MEP Patricia McKenna is the most
prominent voice in this broad-based alliance which also includes
Independent TDs Finian McGrath and Tony Gregory, and Independent
Munster MEP Kathy Sinnott. The movement says it campaigns "against
any measures that further develop the EU into a federal superstate,
and works to defend and enhance popular sovereignty, democracy and
social justice in Ireland".
Ms McKenna has highlighted the impact of Ireland losing a permanent commissioner, and has warned that the treaty will undermine workers' rights. The group has distributed leaflets against the treaty and held public meetings.
UNIONS
The Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union
(TEEU) is advising its 45,000 members to vote No in next month's
referendum. The national executive of the TEEU, the State's largest
craft union, claims that recent judgments by the European Court of
Justice show workers' rights have been sidelined in favour of big
business.
Ictu will decide its formal position next week, though one of its largest member unions, Unite, is recommending a No vote. The country's largest union, Siptu, is still considering its position.
THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE EU CONSTITUTION
Formed in 2005, the CAEUC is a broad coalition
including political parties, civil society organisations and trade
unionists. Among its affiliates are the Communist Party of Ireland,
Éirígí, the Irish Anti-War Movement, the Peace
Neutrality Alliance (Pana), People Before Profit, the People's
Movement, National Platform, Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party,
Socialist Workers Party and Workers Party.
The Lisbon Treaty, it argues, will "take us in the direction of more privatisation, more right-wing economic policy, more militarisation, less neutrality and less democratic control".
PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT ALLIANCE
Unsuccessful Dáil candidate Richard Boyd
Barrett is one of those leading the People before Profit campaign.
The group says it will distribute leaflets and posters, as well as
canvass in 15 constituencies, to highlight its claims that the
treaty may lead to the privatisation of public services and further
militarisation, and that it does nothing to "seriously address" the
democratic deficit within the EU.
SOCIALIST PARTY
Former TD and party leader Joe Higgins has addressed
a number of public forums to outline his party's opposition to the
Lisbon Treaty. He argues that it poses a threat to public services
and would open the way to more privatisation. He has also warned of
what he claims is the increasing militarisation of the EU.
Socialist Party councillor Clare Daly has said that the treaty
renders workers' rights "subservient to the free market".
CÓIR
A group based at the same Dublin address as Youth
Defence and the anti-Nice Treaty campaigns, Cóir has issued a
guide to the treaty claiming that Catholics should not vote in
favour of it. It has faced criticism for distributing leaflets
claiming the treaty could change Irish laws on issues such as
abortion, euthanasia and prostitution.
It has erected more than 5,000 posters with headlines such as "People Died For Your Freedom - Don't Throw It Away". Another features an image of three monkeys and the slogan: "The New EU Won't See You, Won't Hear You, Won't Speak For You."
PEACE AND NEUTRALITY ALLIANCE
Pana encompasses a broad range of affiliated
organisations. Chairman Roger Cole says it will focus on issues
related to "militarisation, neutrality and the neo-liberal agenda"
during its campaign.
AFRI
The Dublin-based peace and human rights group is
campaigning against the treaty with particular focus on what it
sees as the increasing militarisation of the EU and the impact of
that on Ireland's foreign policy and neutrality.
Afri has its own website and has produced a pamphlet written by UCD lecturer Andy Storey outlining its opposition to the treaty.
NATIONAL PLATFORM
Run by retired TCD lecturer and Eurosceptic Anthony
Coughlan, National Platform has mounted a lower profile campaign
against the Lisbon Treaty than it did in previous EU referendums.
Mr Coughlan maintains a website and sends regular mail bulletins
outlining his opposition to the treaty.
OTHER GROUPS
There are several smaller left-wing groups
campaigning against the treaty. Kieran Allen of the Socialist
Workers Party, who is also running for the position of general
secretary of Siptu, manages a website, VoteNo.ie.
Anti-immigration campaigners such as Áine Ni Chonaill are also opposed to the treaty.