REFERENDUM DIGEST

News and diary dates from the campaign trail compiled by Olivia Kelly.

News and diary dates from the campaign trail compiled by Olivia Kelly.

TODAY'S EVENTS

FIANNA FÁIL

The Fianna Fáil "Yes Bus" will be visiting Main Street, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, from 2.20pm, before moving on to the Childers Road Shopping Centre in Limerick City at 3.45pm, prior to carrying party members in Limerick City centre to a canvass on O'Connell Street at 4.30pm.

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Taoiseach Brian Cowen will meet local community groups in the Clarion Hotel, Limerick, at 6pm.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and five inter-county business associations are coming together for a "Lisbon Lunch" at the Royal Colleg of Physicians, Kildare Street, Dublin at 1pm.

Fianna Fáil is holding a press conference in Buswells Hotel, Dublin at 2pm on the theme: "The economic case for a Yes vote". The event will be addressed by Micheál Martin and Dick Roche.

LABOUR

Eamon Gilmore, Enda Kenny and Barry Andrews taking part in joint party canvass on Henry Street, Dublin, from 1pm.

Labour's European Affairs spokesman Joe Costello canvassing at Tara Street Dart station in Dublin at 4.30pm and in Cabra, Dublin, at 7pm.

FINE GAEL

Enda Kenny, MEP Gay Mitchell and local TD and party health spokesman James Reilly TD will address a Fine Gael public meeting in Swords, Co Dublin, at 8.30pm.

Party leader Enda Kenny canvassing in Drogheda, Co Louth, alongside local TD Fergus O'Dowd and MEP Mairead McGuinness. Canvass begins on West Street at 4.20pm.

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS

Ciarán Cannon will be speaking on the Lisbon Treaty on South East Radio and Midlands103 Radio at 10.30am and 11am, respectively.

Senator Fiona O'Malley will be canvassing on Portobello Bridge in Dublin between 8am and 9am.

Victor Boyhan, national executive officer of the PDs, will canvass at Tara Street Dart station, Dublin, at 5pm.

SINN FÉIN

Press conference at 1.30pm in Buswells, Kildare Street, Dublin, with Mary Lou McDonald, Arthur Morgan and Aengus Ó Snodaigh on how the "Irish Government can secure a better deal".

WORKERS' PARTY

"Lisbon: A Treaty Too Far?" Public meeting organised by the Workers' Party and People Before Profit, Heather House Hotel, Bray, Co Wicklow. 7.45pm

SAYNO.IE:

Campaign against the EU Constitution holding event in Dublin to ask "What would the Lisbon Treaty do for women?" Patricia McKenna of the People's Movement, Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin and Carol Fox of Peace and Neutrality Alliance taking part. Buswells, Kildare Street, 11am.

Bookmakers cut odds on No vote win

BOOKMAKERS' confidence in the treaty being ratified is faltering, with Paddy Power reducing their odds on a No vote in the referendum from 5/1 to 3/1. This move by the bookmakers follows a surge of betting on the likelihood of the treaty being rejected.

A spokesman for Paddy Power said they had taken a large number of bets in recent days that the referendum would be defeated, and stood to lose a substantial sum if the No side won. "While a Yes vote remains our odds-on favourite, a No vote is actually our biggest loser. We've taken several substantial bets on a No outcome, including one bet of €10,000 at odds of 5/1.

90% of economists surveyed back Lisbon

ECONOMIC EXPERTS are pro-Lisbon, according to a survey carried out by Reuters, which found that nine out of 10 Dublin-based economists believe a Yes vote would be the best result for future prosperity.

Rossa White, chief economist at Davy stockbrokers, said the ratification of the treaty would secure the veto on tax changes.

David Croughan, chief economist with Ibec said: "The fears raised on taxation are bogus."