The fate of the Nice Treaty remains uncertain with a small majority of committed voters backing it but almost half of voters undecided, according to a telephone poll conducted in the past fortnight.
The poll, conducted by Millward Brown IMS for the financial institution Citigroup shows 29 per cent in favour of the Nice Treaty, 19 per cent against, 44 per cent undecided and 9 per cent intending not to vote.
The telephone survey was carried out from August 28th to September 5th among 939 people. Support is stronger among men than women. Among men, 38 per cent are in favour, 20 per cent against, 33 per cent are undecided and 9 per cent will not vote. Among women 21 per cent are in favour, 17 per cent against, 53 per cent don't know and 9 per cent will not vote. The results are not directly comparable with past opinion polls on the treaty, as the methodology used in this survey was substantially different. However, in May, an Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll showed 32 per cent supporting the treaty, 32 per cent opposing it, 32 per cent undecided and 4 per cent intending not to vote.
The former Taoiseach and Fine Gael directors of elections for Nice, Mr John Bruton, said yesterday that only a clear, positive message from the Yes campaign would result in a successful outcome. "This poll shows that a major communications exercise is needed if we are to be sure that the Irish people will endorse the Nice Treaty."
"Irish people have benefited enormously from membership of the European Union. All workers now have a higher income and Irish women have been assured of equality in the workplace. None of this would have been possible had we not been part of the union."