Commission opens Lisbon campaign

The Referendum Commission today opened a €5 million information campaign on the Lisbon Treaty referendum, which will be held on June 12th.

The Referendum Campaign has opened a €5m information campaign on the Lisbon Treaty referendum

The commission began distributing over two million copies of its handbook to voters’ homes throughout Ireland explaining the treaty.

The handbook, which is published in English and Irish under the same cover, explains the proposals in the treaty to change how the EU is governed, and the proposed changes to what the EU does.

An advertising campaign on radio, television, in newspapers, online and outdoors also begins today.

Speaking at the campaign launch, Referendum Commission chairman Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill said: “In just over four weeks Ireland will vote in the Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

"I hope that in those four weeks the Irish people will engage with our campaign, take whatever time they can afford to inform themselves and then vote on the 12th June."

Mr O’Neill said the handbook does not cover all aspects of each provision of the treaty, but did cover what the Commission felt were the main provisions.

"The handbook is a distillation of the changes that the treaty will bring about. We feel that we have encapsulated all the essential provisions included in it."

He said that as polling day nears the campaign's message will shift from informing people of the referendum to encouraging them to vote.

Mr O'Neill added that in order to reach younger voters, the commission has developed a range of online ads on social networking websites such as Bebo and Facebook and has also created a video on Youtube which will be available midway through the campaign.

The commission is an independent body established by the Government and its role is to provide information on all aspects of the treaty in advance of the ballot. It does not take any stance either in favour or against the constitutional amendment to be put to the electorate.

Responding to suggestions that the Lisbon Treaty will affect Ireland's neutrality and would allow the country's corporate tax rate to be changed, Mr O'Neill said that it was not the role of the commission to engage with protaganists on either side.

However, he added that in its considered view the Referendum Commission could not see how such issues would be changed by voting in favour of the treaty.

More than three million people in the State are registered and entitled to vote in the referendum.

Further information is available on the commission’s website at www.lisbontreaty2008.ie