The Minister for Foreign Affairs has accused some anti-Lisbon Treaty groups of running cynical campaigns, in an effort to distort debate before October's referendum.
Micheál Martin said the public deserved an honest debate on the issues contained in the Treaty.
In a speech to an Ógra Fianna Fáil conference in Cork earlier today, Mr Martin said pro-Europeans had to stand up and speak out against groups opposed to the Treaty, because the issues involved were serious and should not be distorted.
Referring to the Coir campaign, which is advocating a No vote, Minister Martin said it was a front for the anti-abortion group Youth Defence.
He said the organisation, which he called shadowy and extreme, was involved in a deeply cynical campaign.
The Minister said people on all sides deserved a fair hearing but groups with an insular and defensive approach to Europe had nothing to offer.
He said there should be no place for organisations trying to hide their role in the campaign.
A spokesperson for the Coir campaign described Minister Martin's remarks as pathetic.
He said that the comments were an insult to those voters who had accepted Coir's arguments during the first referendum campaign.
Coir says that while it supports the aims of Youth Defence in keeping Ireland 'abortion free', it is an independent organisation.
