The Taoiseach Mr Ahern today urged the electorate to inform themselves about the Nice treaty issues ahead the referendum.
Speaking at the publication of the Government's information booklet on the treaty, Mr Ahern said he hoped "no information deficit" would remain and people "will feel informed," in this year's referendum.
"I urge everyone to take the time to read this booklet and to make themselves aware of the facts," he said. The 14-page booklet published by the Revenue Commission will be delivered to every household in the State over the next few weeks.
The Commission says the booklet explains the main changes that would be made to the EU and its institutions should the Treaty of Nice be ratified by all 15 member states.
A government spokesman said: "The booklet we are circulating also contains basic questions and answers on areas such as the institutions of the EU, enlargement, qualified majority voting and other issues which people may not be familiar with - as well as developments that have taken place in the past year".
Together with the work of the Referendum Commission, Mr Ahern said the Government was working to ensure people will have the "information to enable them to vote in an informed way" and "come out and vote in large numbers.
"Last year the government was criticised for not providing sufficient readily accessible information to the public," he said, and this year the Government "has listened".
Also speaking at the launch, the Tánaiste Ms Harney urged people who remained unsure about Nice to realise that there was still time and "plenty of ways to get informed, and described the upcoming referendum as "a matter of great national importance".