EU treaty referendum 'probably' on June 12
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday finally confirmed Thursday, June 12 as the date for the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
Speaking shortly after making his shock resignation announcement, Mr Ahern told a packed Dail chamber he believed such a timeframe would be the "most appropriate".
The Taoiseach received plaudits from opposition leaders for his time in office, as well as a standing ovation from colleagues in the Dail on foot of his announcement to resign on May 6.
However, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern denied that the Taoiseach's departure would boost the "Yes" side in the referendum.
There had been fears that voters would use the poll to express their dissatisfaction with the Taoiseach or public unease about Mr Ahern's finances.
The Taoiseach was pressed by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny on the issue during leaders' questions and asked to make a formal decision on the date before he left office.
Mr Ahern said no formal decision had yet been made on the date, but that June 12 would be the most suitable.
He said that weekends had been looked at as a possibility, but the reality was that many potential voters would be away from their homes.
"We have completed all the work the cabinet set out. We have the referendum legislation and the white paper has been launched," he told a packed Dail yesterday.
"While we haven't formalised a date because I was to do that, it seems to me that Thursday the 12th is probably the most appropriate date," he added.
"We did look at the weekends, but the reality is that during weekends in June there are many people on the move. We haven't made a formal decision."
Mr Kenny said thanked the Taoiseach for confirming the date. He said all parties could now put together their referendum agendas.
- Patricia McDonagh and Michael Brennan
