Europe forum in Waterford tonight

The latest meeting of the National Forum on Europe - debating issues around the Lisbon Treaty - takes place in Waterford city tonight.

The meeting, starting at City Hall at 7.30pm, is the second to be held by the forum.

Further meetings, which are aimed at raising awareness and facilitating debate on the Lisbon Treaty, are planned for Kilkenny City and Tullamore, Co Offaly, next week.

At the weekend, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams claimed that a Yes vote on the treaty would lessen Irish input on future EU defence, security and economic policies and reduce the State's ability to stop decisions not in the national interest.

Speaking in Dublin as the party gathered to finalise its opposition to the treaty, he said he believed it would have "consequences for generations to come", adding "we think it is crucial we retain as much democratic control [ as possible]."

The party said the treaty advanced EU militarisation and undermined Irish neutrality by committing to an EU foreign, security and defence policy.

Ireland is the only one of the EU's 27 member states that will hold a referendum on the treaty. It replaces the previously proposed EU constitution that French and Dutch voters rejected in 2005.

On Friday, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he expected the treaty referendum to be held in late May or early June.