There is "much confusion" among the public about the Lisbon treaty and its implications for Ireland, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said today, urging politicians to fill what he called the "information gap" ahead of the summer referendum.
In an address to the Forum on Europe at Dublin Castle, Mr Kenny said he had detected a lack of clarity about the treaty's provisions during public meetings held by his party in recent weeks.
"While people are generally positively disposed towards Europe, there is much confusion about the Lisbon treaty itself, and its implications. It is our responsibility as politicians to fill this information gap."
He said that while reminders of the European project's achievements were important, they were not in themselves enough to convince people of the need to keep the process moving forward.
"We must explain to people what a reformed European Union can achieve for people in the future and why these reforms are needed now so that Europe can work effectively to meet the many challenges it faces."
Noting recent protests by Irish farmers over the ongoing World Trade Organisation talks, Mr Kenny urged farmers' organisations to separate the issue from the Lisbon treaty.
The fact Ireland is the only member state to hold a referendum on the treaty was a "wonderful privilege and enormous responsibility," he said.