Irish support for the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty has risen further, continuing this year's trend of gains for the "Yes" camp and a steady decline in opposition, an opinion poll showed on Monday.Skip related content The Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll found 54 percent would back the treaty in a fresh referendum this year, up two percentage points from two weeks ago, with the proportion of those planning to vote "No" dropping one point to 28 percent. When undecided voters were excluded, 66 percent were in favour and 34 percent against, compared with a referendum result last June of 53.4 percent "No" and 46.6 percent "Yes." The Irish government has consented to holding a second Lisbon vote this autumn, subject to concessions in areas of concern for Irish voters, such as military neutrality, taxation and the retention of a European commissioner. European leaders are expected to agree on the details of those guarantees later this month. Many voters now look to the European Union as a haven amid the global financial crisis, in whichIreland has become one of the most vulnerable euro zone members, but the recession has also distracted the government from focussing on Lisbon. Prime Minister Brian Cowen's cabinet has acknowledged the need for a better publicity effort than before last June's vote, but the Irish Times said there was little evidence of this so far. "If they have not made substantial progress in organising a campaign before the summer break, including informing voters about the treaty's content and implications, they will be at a real disadvantage in September," the paper said in an editorial accompanying the poll. Elections on Friday for the European Parliament, local councils and two seats in the Irish parliament could provide a further indication of sentiment, with anti-treaty parties Libertas and Sinn Fein in the race for European mandates. (Reporting by Andras Gergely; editing by Andrew Roche)BREAKING NEWS
Poll finds Irish support for EU's Lisbon treaty rises
Monday 1 June 2009
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