Support for the Nice Treaty has jumped from 29 per cent in early September to 44 per cent now, according to a telephone survey.
Opposition to the treaty has edged up from 19 per cent to 22 per cent, with a sharp drop in undecided from 44 per cent to 27 per cent. The proportion not intending to vote fell slightly, to 7 per cent now from 9 per cent a month ago.
Figures for the farming community showed Yes voters at 51 per cent with No at 13 per cent, undecided at 32 per cent and 4 per cent not intending to vote. A month before, the farming figures were Yes 30 per cent, No 21 per cent, Undecided 42 per cent, Not Voting 7 per cent.
The Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Harney, said the trends were "encouraging" but there were "absolutely no grounds for complacency" for the Yes campaign. The message should be simple, clear and sustained: "Nice is a passport to new jobs and increased prosperity."
The question in the Millward Brown IMS poll, commissioned by Citigroup, was: "How do you intend to vote in the forthcoming referendum on the Nice Treaty? Will you vote in favour or against the Nice Treaty?" The survey period was September 25th to October 3rd, and the sample size was 934 people.
The survey shows a widening divide between men and women. Among men, the balance in favour of Nice has increased to 33 per cent from 18 per cent a month ago. By contrast, among women, the balance of opinion in favour of the treaty has risen from 4 per cent a month ago to 10 per cent now.
In another development, a London-based group called the Irish Against Racism Network (IARN) has written to The Irish Times urging British organisations seeking speakers from Ireland on the Nice Treaty to boycott Mr Anthony Coughlan's National Platform and the No to Nice Campaign, whose chief spokesman is Mr Justin Barrett.
"This suggestion is being made because it was Anthony Coughlan that introduced immigration as an issue into the debate on the Nice Treaty when the National Platform issued a press statement on this matter on July 1st.