Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said a referendum on the Lisbon Reform Treaty is to be held in late May or early June.
He told RTÉ News the only thing preventing him from pinning down a date is the need to get absolute clarity that the poll will deal exclusively with EU matters.
He said it appeared that a simultaneous referendum on children's rights would not be ready on time. He said consultations with the opposition that question are not complete.
Mr Ahern also announced the appointment of the Tanaiste Brian Cowen and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, as Fianna Fáil's joint directors of elections for the EU referendum.
Ireland is the only one of the EU's 27 member states to hold a referendum on the treaty which replaces the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
