Nice campaign starts in earnest next week

The information campaign ahead of October's Nice referendum is to begin in earnest next week.

Just as the Dail rose for summer recess, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern instructed his deputies and Senators to treat the campaign as if it were a general election.

He also stated that he would do 'everything in his power' to ratify the treaty.

However, John Cushnahan, Fine Gael MEP, has accused Bertie Ahern of ignoring his Fianna Fail roots by not entering into a common defense policy, which had initially been green-flagged by Sean Lemass.

Mr Cushnahan also contends that the Government may be forced to legally defend their position on the forthcoming referendum.