Government fears low turnout will cost Yes vote

THE Government is worried that a low turnout in Saturday's referendum could result in the Nice Treaty being lost again.

Parties campaigning for a Yes vote will focus all their energies in the next two days on bringing out as many people as possible in the hope it will swing a Yes vote.

Fianna Fáil officials and senior government sources believe a turnout greater than 45% is needed to swing a Yes vote, compared to the 34.7% turnout in last year's Nice referendum.