FG unveils Lisbon Treaty campaign

Fine Gael has launched a €500,000 ad campaign for a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

The Oireachtas opposition party began lobbying in early March with a series of public meetings on the referendum. But its official campaign will include nationwide and online advertising, a new website and literature explaining the treaty.

Fine Gael’s Campaign Director Gay Mitchell said: "I'm voting "yes" to the Lisbon Reform Treaty because it is a very good deal for Ireland and for Europe. These changes are needed to bring the European Union into the 21st century."

"Lisbon is about giving the EU the structures and capacity to keep an influential role in a changing world.

"We cannot hope to keep a prominent place in global affairs if we continue to rotate the Presidency of the European Council every six months," he said.

Mr Mitchell warned that Ireland’s new-found influence would suffer if the Treaty was rejected on June 12th.

The front runner in the "No" campaign, Sinn Fein, saw their party's President Gerry Adams speak out this week, claiming it would be detrimental to workers in the state while damaging Ireland’s ability to veto tax regulation by the union.

(DW)