REFERENDUM DIGEST

News and events on the campaign trail.

News and events on the campaign trail.

Events today

FIANNA FÁIL
Taoiseach Brian Cowen join local party workers and Ógra Fianna Fáil members on the party's "Yes Bus": 10.30am, Longford; noon, Mullingar; 1.30pm, Tullamore; 3.15pm, Portlaoise; 4.45pm, Roscrea; 5.30pm, Birr; 6.30pm, Tullamore.

FINE GAEL
7.30am, Gay Mitchell MEP will campaign at Leeson Street Bridge, Dublin 2; Young Fine Gael to canvass major commuter areas

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7.45am, Olivia Mitchell TD will campaign at Balally Luas Station; Alan Shatter TD to campaign at Green Line Luas stations

11am, Mairead McGuinness MEP to address students at Rathkenny National School

Afternoon: Colm Burke MEP and Bernard Allen TD to campaign across Cork North Central

5pm Gay Mitchell MEP and Young Fine Gael will campaign at Pearse Street Train Station

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS
Senator Ciaran Cannon canvassing in South Galway

Minister Mary Harney canvassing in Dublin Mid West

Few clouds on horizon for vote

After all the canvassing, stump speeches and leafleting, there is one m factor which could play a crucial role in tomorrow's vote: the weather.

Met Éireann reports that Thursday will be "mostly dry", with temperatures in the mid-teens. There is a chance of showers at times, especially in the north of the country.

Political number crunchers are expecting a relatively high turn-out of close to 50 per cent as a result. Voter turnout in the first Nice referendum was 35 per cent, rising to 48.5 per cent for the second referendum.

Bookies put their money on Yes vote

It might be too close to call in the opinion polls, but the bookies seem increasingly confident of a Yes vote.

Paddy Power's odds for a Yes vote have shortened from 2-1 to 2-7 due mainly to an increase in Yes bets. Meanwhile, odds of a No vote have lengthened from the weekend to 9-4.

Despite the shift towards the Yes camp, Paddy Power spokesman Ken Robertson says there has been a number of substantial individual bets on a No outcome which could cost it dearly. "We have one bet of €10,000 at odds of 5/1. We'll be paying out in excess of €100,000 should the No vote get carried," he says.

Taxi drivers told to keep opinions private

As if taxi drivers didn't have enough to complain about.

They're now the subject of criticism by Fine Gael who have called for a ban on Dublin's taxis from displaying bumper stickers that proclaim their voting intentions.

A host of "I'm voting No" stickers have been visible in taxi cabs in the capital in recent weeks. "If it's not illegal, it's highly inappropriate," said Fine Gael's Olivia Mitchell, who argues they are out of place on public transport vehicles.

The howls of indignation could be heard echoing from taxi cabs across the capital last night. "If I wanted to vote Yes, would they object to that if I put a sticker on my car with it?," demanded one cabbie, who identified himself as Ronan.

Quote: "It is much easier to worry people than to reassure them" -Dr Garret FitzGerald on one of the difficulties faced by the Yes campaign