The Government has set up a website to provide information on the EU Reform Treaty and plans to hold information sessions around the country before the referendum next year.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said www.reformtreaty.ieforms part of the Government's information campaign to explain the contents of the treaty signed in Lisbon today to the public.
"The Reform Treaty is an important achievement for the European Union and its ratification is a priority for the Government," Mr Ahern said.
The Reform Treaty draws much of its substance from the European Constitution, but takes the form of a series of amendments to the existing European Treaties, the Minister explained.
After the treaty is signed by EU leaders today, it must be ratified by all 27 member states.
Agreement on this new treaty took place after the failure to ratify the European Constitution, which had been agreed in 2004.
France and the Netherlands rejected that document in referendums.
Separately, an Oireachtas committee is going on a national tour to explain the EU Reform Treaty to the public.
The Joint Committee on European Affairs will hold advertised public meetings in 2008.
The all-party body is made up of 17 TDs and senators representing Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour, the Greens and Independents.
Committee chairman Bernard Durkan said the initiative is to stimulate awareness among the general public of the treaty and its provisions.
"We want to give as many people as possible an opportunity to debate the issues and to by fully up-to-speed on its detail before they are asked to vote. This is primarily an informational exercise since our role is not to seek to promote a particular point of view or to influence the vote," he said.
"However, we have considerable knowledge and expertise in EU affairs within our membership and we feel it will be helpful to put that at the disposal of the general public in all parts of the country."
Additional reporting: PA