Fewer than 50 people attended a public meeting on the Lisbon Treaty at the City Hall in Waterford last night. The event was the second in a nationwide series of such meetings organised by the National Forum on Europe, which represents "all political parties and leading national organisations".
The first was held in Blanchardstown, west Dublin last week.
The forum says its "purpose is not to advocate or promote a particular course of action" but to provide "a politically neutral public space within which political views and analyses of all shades can be put forward on the EU, and on Ireland in the EU."
Last night's main speakers were John Cushnahan, a former Fine Gael MEP and former leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, who is supporting the treaty, and Kathy Sinnott, the Independent MEP for Munster who is opposing it.
Mr Cushnahan said the purpose of the treaty was "to make EU institutions more effective, efficient and democratic" and criticised opponents for using "exaggerated and untrue claims intended to scaremonger and create an atmosphere of fear".
He said "the spotlight of Europe" would be on Ireland - the only country holding a referendum - and he hoped the "people would discharge their responsibilities".
Ms Sinnott believes the Lisbon Treaty has the same content as the draft EU constitution that was rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands.
She accused European governments of "avoiding the people" and hoping to adopt the Lisbon Treaty by stealth "by not using the word 'constitution' and not holding referendums". She said the best way to ensure real reform of the EU would be for the Irish people to say, "No, thank you".
A spokesman for the forum declined to comment on the low turnout at the meeting in the State's fifth-largest city, which has a population of 50,000.
None of Waterford's four TDs attended. However, Fianna Fáil TDs Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South) and Seán Connick (Wexford) were present. Dr Mansergh said he was "reasonably confident" that the referendum would be carried and said that "unlike Nice, we're not going to get caught unawares this time".
He said there would "have to be direct engagement with the public - not just with the people who come to meetings".
Mr Connick, who is vice-chairman of the Oireachtas joint-committee on European scrutiny, said while he was also "confident", he believed it was " up to the Government and the Yes camp to get the vote out".
Joe Kelly, a Sinn Féin councillor in Waterford, said "millions of people across Europe would vote against this treaty if given a chance".