Bruton warns of need for consistency on Yes vote

The Government and the main Opposition parties are expected to take a collective approach in the campaign for a Yes vote in the referendum on the Belfast Agreement.

While no specific plans have yet been made, Government sources indicated yesterday some form of joint action by the parties would be a logical reflection of the political consensus that exists on the agreement.

Meanwhile, in a veiled criticism of the Taoiseach's 1916 Rising commemoration speech at Arbour Hill on Sunday, Mr John Bruton said the "avoidable controversy" caused by it highlighted the need for a consistent approach from all politicians supporting a Yes vote.

The Fine Gael leader said while it was a political reality that there were different constituencies to be addressed, it was not possible in the era of mass communications to deliver messages designed for the ears of one constituency only.

The two governments had an urgent responsibility to work with all parties supporting the agreement towards creating "common themes and concepts, so that arguments for the agreement are presented to each community in a way that engenders support for the agreement in the other community as well," he said.

Fianna Fail has appointed the former Government press secretary, Mr P.J. Mara, as campaign director, while Ms Liz O'Donnell is to fill the role for the Progressive Democrats.

Mr Mara said his party's campaign, which begins early next week, would be "vigorous and forceful, at strong as any election campaign of recent times".

He said there was a serious obligation on each of the parties to get its own vote out, and the greater responsibility on Fianna Fail as the largest party would be reflected in the resources allocated to the campaign. He confirmed that the Taoiseach would have a "huge" personal role to play in the campaign, "given the enormous respect and affection that he inspires".

But he said there was also an obligation on the "churches and social partners and everybody else who supports the agreement to come out and take a stand. This is clearly unlike any other campaign we've had for a very long time and it's an opportunity we're unlikely to get again."

Fine Gael, which will begin its campaign on Thursday, is to take a unified approach to the two referendums. The party has appointed an overall campaign director - Mr Gay Mitchell - and will have a single theme, "Peace and Harmony".

"The message will be peace in Northern Ireland and harmony with Europe," a spokesman said. The party's deputy campaign director, Mr Charlie Flanagan, will be devoted exclusively to the vote on the Belfast agreement.

A poll for the Prime Time RTE1 programme shows a Yes vote of 61 per cent, a No vote of 7 per cent and the undecided at 32 per cent.

The survey indicates big regional differences, with Connacht/Ulster registering the highest Yes vote at 69 per cent, compared with only 59 per cent in Dublin. Dublin also has the highest number of undecided voters.