REFERENDUM DIGEST

More news and entries for your diary.

More news and entries for your diary.

EVENTS TODAY

POLITICAL PARTIES

Fianna Fáil

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Taoiseach Brian Cowen canvassing with the Fianna Fáil "Yes Bus" in Dún Laoghaire and Dublin South, with Ógra Fianna Fáil members and local party representatives. 4.15pm-7pm.

Ministers Micheál Martin and Willie O'Dea attending press conference on "Peace and Foreign Affairs and the Lisbon Treaty". Merrion Hotel, Dublin, 10am.

Fine Gael

Party leader Enda Kenny launches MEP billboards, Imperial Hotel, Cork, 2.30pm, followed by city centre canvass (3.15pm), Mahon shopping centre canvass (5pm) and meeting, Imperial Hotel (8pm).

Olivia Mitchell TD canvassing at Dundrum town centre, Dublin.

Labour

Proinsias De Rossa MEP street canvass, Sligo town, 2-4pm.

Sinn Féin

Mary Lou McDonald MEP and Arthur Morgan TD press conference, "Lisbon and the Democratic Deficit", Parnell Square, Dublin, 11am.

Mary Lou McDonald MEP canvassing Huntstown Community Centre, Blanchardstown, Dublin, 1-2pm.

OTHER GROUPS

People's Movement

Press conference: "Call for Fair and Democratic Referendum Campaign and a Commitment to Give No side of the Debate Equal Treatment." Buswell's Hotel, Molesworth St, Dublin. 11.30am.

Campaign Against the EU Constitution

Public meeting, Liberty Hall, Dublin. Speakers Tobias Pflueger MEP (Germany), Joe Higgins, Mary Lou McDonald MEP, Patricia McKenna. 8pm.

Bishops to publish treaty statement

Ireland's Catholic bishops will publish a statement relating to the Lisbon Treaty today.

The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference announced last night that it will issue a pastoral reflection entitled "Fostering a Community of Values" on the occasion of the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Martin Long, director of the Catholic Communications Office, said the statement would be available on its website - http://www.catholiccommunications.ie/ - after 3.30pm.

Devil in the detail when it comes to anti-treaty posters

Members of the main groups campaigning for a No vote are wondering who is behind some decidedly lurid posters urging voters to reject the treaty.

One features a crying baby with a barcode and electronic chipping device attached to her arm. "Don't want your kids chipped? Vote No," it reads.

Another carries the slogan "Help build an EU army by voting Yes" under a red-hued image of a mushroom cloud. A similarly designed poster portrays a devilish horned figure juxtaposed with both EU and UN insignia and the strapline "I want you to give up your rights."

But a humorous poster features Dustin the Turkey after his failed Eurovision attempt, urging voters to get their own back on Europe by voting No.

Conspiracy theorists? Anarchists? Pranksters? One No campaigner suggested it may all be a ruse by the Yes camp to discredit its opponents.

McCreevy's comment crawls across Europe

EU commissioner Charlie McCreevy's comment that no sane person would read the Lisbon Treaty from cover to cover is still causing ripples through the EU.

Among the international media outlets to report it is German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, which carries the comment - reported in The Irish Times on May 24th - on its website.

An accompanying photograph carries the caption: "EU leaders signed the treaty after reading it, but how many of them have read it since?"

Forum on Europe publishes report

The chair of the National Forum on Europe, Maurice Hayes, has published a report on debates held by the forum on the Lisbon Treaty this year.

Mr Hayes said he hoped the report will assist voters in making an informed decision in the referendum.

"The role of the forum is to promote and facilitate public debate on the treaty and its implications for Ireland's future in Europe. The forum has taken great care to ensure that all sides of the debate received fair treatment."

The report is online at www.forumoneurope.ie