Irish Government Goes All Out On Nice 'Yes' Campaign

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

10 October 2002

With less than ten days to go until the referendum on the Nice Treaty in Ireland, the government and other pro-Nice organisations have pulled out all the stops in a bid to win the public's support.

There were suggestions following last year's rejection of the pro-enlargement treaty in the Republic that the 'Yes' campaign had been somewhat lacklustre.

However, this time around the government is taking no chances, according to a recent report in the Irish Times, which revealed this week that while spending on the 'Yes' campaign has amounted to approximately 1.68 million euros, the 'No' campaigners only have around 170,000 euros at their disposal.

The Times report revealed that a great deal of the pro-Nice campaign funding has been provided by the political parties, which have, for the most part, put aside their political differences in the interests of a positive outcome. Other bodies which have contributed to the 'Yes' campaign, according to the Irish Times, include the Irish Farmers Association, and the Dublin International Financial Services Centre.

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