Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says it is clearly desirable that the maximum possible number of citizens are encouraged to cast their vote in the upcoming Lisbon Treaty.
In his final address to the Seanad as Taoiseach, he said he regretted that part of the public debate so far on the treaty has been based on issues which 'are frankly not in any credible way related to the text'.
'Of course an international treaty is inevitably a rather complex document, but the substance to which it gives rise is clearly and easily understood.'
Mr Ahern said he regretted the fact that some had sought to use the necessary complexity of formal language to camouflage their true feelings about Europe or the European Union or 'otherwise to create mischief'.
The Taoiseach told the Seanad he had no doubt that the Referendum Commission would be highly professional in its mission to encourage the maximum number of voters to participate on the day of the referendum.
He said his advice to the Irish people was to maintain a clear focus on the core question of our relationship with Europe. 'The record since our accession is very clear.'
Mr Ahern added: 'Whenever we have associated with the evolution of the European project it has worked to our benefit economically and socially.'
