Referendum gap narrows to 8 points - poll

The gap between the Yes and No sides in the upcoming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty has narrowed, according to the latest opinion poll.

While both sides record an increase in support, the Red C poll in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Business Post shows the gap between the sides narrowing to eight points.

The Yes side has seen an increase of 3 per cent in support bringing them to 41 per cent, while the NO side has seen a jump of five per cent with 33 per cent now planning to vote against the Treaty.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin who is also director of Fianna Fáil's referendum campaign welcomed the increase in support for the YES side.

In a statement released this evening, Minister Martin described the the latest poll results as "welcome" but emphasised the Yes campaign will now have to "step-up the work to bring our positive message to every part of the country."

"I am very encouraged by the fact that the Yes vote is up in spite of the incredible barrage of aggressive attacks on the Treaty launched in recent weeks. The sheer scale and ferocity of these attacks -threatening economic and social ruin - makes the result very significant, showing that the Irish public refuses to demonise a Union which has done so much for Ireland", he said.

"That's why we are taking nothing for granted and are going to redouble our efforts over the next 18 days."

The Irish Alliance for Europe (IAE) which is chaired by former Labour leader Ruairí Quinn, also welcomed the result.

IAE Director Brendan Kiely said: “It’s still all to play for, a lead of 8% is very positive right now but there are still three weeks to go before we have the results of the most important poll”.