Where to go for information on the EU treaty

MORE information is available during this referendum campaign on the EU Reform Treaty than in any other Irish referendum to date.

Within days of the signing of the treaty in Lisbon on December 13 last, a short pamphlet briefly outlining its main elements was published and distributed by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Shortly afterwards a website dedicated to the treaty — www.reformtreaty.ie — was established.

A lo-call phoneline (1850 211602) has also been set up. Anybody can ring this number 24 hours a day and leave a request for copies of the treaty, for other material or leave specific queries which will receive individual attention.

A pamphlet outlining the key aspects of the treaty has been issued in braille and audiovisual materials are available in Irish and English. A guide to the treaty has been published by the National Forum on Europe which is holding a widely-advertised series of public sessions throughout the country.

A short bilingual Guide to the Treaty has also been published. Copies are available through either the lo-call number or the website already mentioned.

Plans are being put in place to deliver a copy of this guide to as many households as possible over the next few weeks.

A consolidated version of the European treaties, outlining what they will look like after the Lisbon treaty is ratified, has been produced by the Irish Institute of International and European Affairs.

A version of this volume, which has been widely acclaimed, can be downloaded in PDF format free of charge from the website above.

Hard copies of the consolidated version of the treaties are being distributed to all public libraries at present. A very significant budget has been set aside for the Referendum Commission which will be appointed as soon as the draft legislation on the referendum is published.

When appointed, the commission, an independent body, will put its own strategy in place for public information on the treaty and to encourage maximum voter participation.

At a party political level, Fianna Fáil has also established a website, www.vote4europe.ie.

This contains material about the treaty and its contents. It is fully interactive allowing for questions to be posted for individual responses.

Brian Crowley MEP

European Parliament

Strasbourg