New poll shows Yes strategy has backfired, says No group

Kieran Allen, from VoteNo.ie has claimed today that the surge in support for the No side shows that the strategy of the Yes campaign has backfired.

"The political establishment thought they could turn this campaign into a vote for or against the EU," he said. "They refused to accept that it was a referendum on what kind of Europe people wanted.

"They deliberately dodged the details about what was contained in the treaty and treated their opponents as if they were 'irrational'.

"They have failed to address real concerns about the erosion of neutrality, attacks on workers’ rights and a trend towards greater privatisation.

Asked about what he thought would happen during the final week of the campaign, Allen said: "I expect that the Yes side will resort to a combination of fear-mongering and concessions in the coming week.

'We will be told that Ireland will be marginalised; that foreign investment will be scared away; that the No campaign is run by the 'extreme' left or right.

"Simultaneously new attempts may be made to bring the leadership of SIPTU onside with symbolic changes that fall short on mandatory union recognition.

"The No campaign will need to intensify its efforts and educate ever more people on the dangers the Lisbon Treaty poses to a 'social Europe' and to Irish neutrality.