News and diary dates compiled by Kitty Hollandand Steven Carroll.
TODAY'S EVENTS
FIANNA FÁIL:Taoiseach Brian Cowen will visit Athlone and Galway with local Fianna Fáil representatives and members of Ógra Fianna Fáil. He will be canvassing at Athlone town shopping centre at 12.15pm; Ballinasloe, Galway at 1.50pm; McInerney's supermarket, Loughrea at 2.50pm; Galway city canvass of Eyre Square shopping centre and city centre ending at Wolfe Tone Bridge (starting at 3.35pm); Oughterard at 7.20pm; and Maam Cross (Peacock's) for a rally at 7.45pm.
FINE GAEL:A press briefing to warn of the economic consequences of a Lisbon No result will be addressed by Peter Sutherland, party leader Enda Kenny and finance spokesman Richard Bruton, in Buswell's Hotel, Dublin 2, at 11.15am.
LABOUR:Joe Costello will canvass in his constituency at Prussia Street (noon-2pm) and in Cabra at 6.30pm - both in Dublin 7.
Proinsias De Rossa and Kathleen Lynch will canvass in Cork city with local Labour councillors and members, from 11am until 3pm.
Jan O'Sullivan will be on constituency canvass at Arthur's Quay, Limerick at 1.45pm.
Eamon Gilmore and Liz McManus will be on constituency canvass in Bray, Greystones and Wicklow town.
SINN FÉIN:The party will be unveiling a building wrap banner at its headquarters at 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, at 11.30am.
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS:Senator Ciarán Cannon will canvass with Taoiseach Brian Cowen in Eyre Square, Galway at 4.15pm.
Minister for Health Mary Harney will speak on the treaty at the Radisson Hotel in Athlone at a Rotary Club breakfast, at 8am. She will canvass with Senator Fiona O'Malley and Cllr Cait Keane in Dundrum Shopping Centre, south Dublin, at 6pm.
ANTI-WAR GROUPS:Anti-war groups will hold a press conference on the treaty and militarisation at Buswell's Hotel, Dublin 2, at 10.30am. Speakers will include Richard Boyd Barrett (Irish Anti-War Movement), Roger Cole (Peace Neutrality Alliance), Andy Storey (AfrI) and Patricia McKenna (representing CND). Chair: Carol Fox (Peace and Neutrality Alliance).
Silenced Europeans and Thomas Rupp of the Europe-wide ERC (European Referendum Campaign) will deliver a message at the EU Parliament office, Dublin 2, at 12.30pm.
State's newest political party urges No vote
WHAT IS believed to be the State's newest political party has come out against the Lisbon Treaty.
The as yet unregistered Priorities Party - founded by Kildare woman and former member of Fine Gael, Florence Craven - calls on "all customers, road hauliers and fishermen to vote a resounding No because this Government is doing nothing to curb high food and fuel prices".
Ms Craven said the party, which had two members when founded at the end of March, now has a membership approaching 100. She plans to register the party when it reaches 100.
Of her former party leader she said: "God love Enda - he's a lovely man, but he's no leader."
On the Lisbon campaign, she said the main parties were acting like "bullies, ramming this treaty down our throats".
Treaty would enable more cross-European schemes for young people, says Labour Youth
YOUNG PEOPLE will be able to go on more cross-European schemes such as Erasmus if the treaty is passed, according to Labour Youth.
Hazel Nolan, of the Cork branch of the party, said that the Lisbon Treaty contained "real advances for young people".
Speaking at an event held in Dublin yesterday to encourage young voters in the country to vote for the treaty, Ms Nolan said that schemes such as the Erasmus exchange programme for third-level students would multiply.
She also said there was no way of knowing "how bad it could have been" for women if Ireland had not been a member of the European Union.
While agreeing that equal pay between men and women was not a reality, Ms Nolan said that things could have been "a lot worse without EU equality legislation".
Giacomo Filibeck, president of the youth section of the Party of European Socialists, said that the Lisbon Treaty would give young people the opportunity "to be ambassadors for the peace philosophy of the EU" by getting involved in the EU defence force.
Referendum Commission denies public misled over qualified majority voting
THE REFERENDUM Commission has rejected suggestions that it failed to inform the public about the number of issues to be dealt with under qualified majority voting if the treaty is passed.
The commission's latest literature, given out at a press conference on Wednesday, identifies over 20 subjects that are moving from unanimity to qualified majority voting, though there are nearly 60 such issues.
Last night, a spokesman said the body's chairman, High Court Judge Iarfhlaith O'Neill, had made it clear it referred only to "the main" areas being affected.
New polling information sent to thousands of Laois voters
NEW POLLING information for the referendum has been sent to the homes of tens of thousands of Co Laois voters.
This follows a mix-up with times listed on polling cards originally issued.
It is understood that polling cards were delivered to voters carrying the incorrect opening hours for polling stations in the county.
A spokeswoman for Laois County Council last night said each voter would be advised by post of the correct opening hours, which are 7am to 10pm.
"Some correction notices have already been issued, and the remainder will be issued over the next couple of days, to be received by all voters in advance of polling day.
"Advertisements are also being placed in the local press. Laois County Council wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused," she said.
Bookies go short on Lisbon success as Yes vote firms
THE BOOKIES' confidence in the treaty's prospects seem to be increasing over a 24-hour period. And they are citing farmers as the reason.
After Paddy Power's decision to cut its odds on Lisbon being passed on Thursday, from 5/1 to 3/1, Boylesports came out yesterday announcing it believed it would passed. They are offering 1/5 on it being passed, and 3/1 against.
Leon Blanche, betting spokesman for Boylesports says: "The Lisbon debate is coming to life and despite a strong campaign by the No camp and a sluggish start by the Yes campaigners, we believe the Irish people will pass the Lisbon Treaty.
"Recent statements by the IFA and a unified front by the political parties should be enough to push through a Yes vote."