Only 25 per cent of voters surveyed by the Referendum Commission understand the Nice Treaty. The findings were described by the chairman of the Commission, Mr Justice Tom Finlay as "disturbing".
While the percentage of those claiming to understand the Treaty has, in fact, increased by 9 per cent from 16 per cent last month, some 75 per cent of voters purport do not fully understand the issues involved.
Mr Finlay said he hoped the voting public's understanding of the issues would increase in the week before the referendum. The Commission has delivered two information booklets to all homes in the country and is running a final week of television advertisements urging people to exercise their right to vote.
The survey found almost total awareness among the public of the forthcoming referendum and some 70 per cent of those surveyed indicated their intention to vote. For those under the age of 25 years of age, the proportion of those intending to vote has practically doubled with 55 per cent saying they would exercise their democratic right.
Enlargement is seen by almost half of those surveyed as the most important issue, a rise from one third. Neutrality is the second issue mentioned most often in relation with the treaty with over a quarter of those surveyed thinking it relevant.
The Referendum Commission is chaired by Mr Justice Tom Finlay, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Commission was established by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whose responsibility it is to decide whether to establish a Referendum Commission on each occasion a referendum is called.
It's core responsibilities are to inform people about the referendum proposals and to maximise voter participation.
