Support for EU treaty grows in Ireland
By Honor Mahony
Support for the EU's Lisbon Treaty among Irish citizens has grown in the past three months, with 52 percent saying they would vote "yes" if a second referendum was held on the issue, a poll conducted for the Irish Times shows.
The TNS mrbi poll, published Monday (18 May), indicates that the majority in favour of the treaty, rejected in a referendum in the country one year ago, has consolidated despite the growing unpopularity of the government.
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The survey represents an increase of one percentage point of those in favour of the treaty compared to a similar poll in February and a drop of four points to 29 percent for those planning to vote No. There was a rise of three points - to 19 percent - of don't knows.
The survey also showed that Irish people overwhelmingly consider the country better off inside the European Union during the current economic crisis (79%), a drop of one point on the February poll.
Conducted from Tuesday to Thursday last week, among 2000 people, the poll was based on the assumption that the referendum will be held in autumn after Ireland has secured legal guarantees in three areas of concern - taxation, defence and abortion.
The results come despite the government's unpopularity. The main governing party, Fianna Fail, is polling at an all time low, largely due to the tough measures it has had to take in the face of the global financial crisis, which has wracked the country's economy.
EU leaders are expected to agree Ireland's Lisbon guarantees at a summit in June, paving the way for the government to announce the referendum date, expected in October.
In a shock vote almost a year ago, Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty by 53.4 percent against to 46.6 in favour.
Since then parliamentary ratification has been completed in the other 26 member states but the treaty needs approval in all member states if it is to go into force.
The Polish and Czech presidents are holding off signing the document - completing ratification - until after the Irish vote and it is facing a legal challenge in Germany's constitutional court.