EVERY EVENING, THEJOURNAL.IE brings you the latest news and campaign moves, squabbles and – hopefully – useful tidbits of information as we face into the 31 May Fiscal Compact referendum.

(If you just want to make up your mind by yourself, you can read TheJournal.ie’s layman’s guide to the treaty).

WHAT’S NEW?

• Richard Bruton and co were still putting out fires today after the jobs minister appeared to suggest yesterday that Ireland could hold a second referendum if the Treaty was rejected by voters. Fine Gael director of elections Simon Coveney said this morning that Bruton’s comments were “a mistake” and said that there “won’t be a second vote on this”. Independent TD Thomas Pringle wasn’t convinced though, insisting that the Government is considering a second vote.
• The latest opinion poll of voter intentions ahead of the referendum shows the Yes side retaining a strong lead, although its margin of victory is narrowing. Fifty per cent of those polled by Red C on behalf of Paddy Power said that they’re planning to tick the Yes box, 31 per cent said they’ll be voting No, and 19 per cent are undecided.
• Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said today that the “government’s Yes campaign has moved from threats to insults”. He’s pointed to Enda Kenny’s comments to a protester in Athlone, the finance minister’s comments about the Irish peoples’ fondness for feta cheese and Richard Bruton’s apparent suggestion (and subsequent retraction) that Ireland could hold a second referendum if the country votes No on 31 May.

RED HERRINGS V REALITY

Struggling to separate fact from not quite fact in relation to the referendum? The Institute of International and European Affairs has compiled an infographic pitting what it calls the ‘red herrings’ against reality. You can check out the full graphic here.

Via: iiea.com

GET YOUR MUG ON TELLY NEWS OF THE DAY

RTÉ’s Frontline has issued its last call for requests for tickets for its Fiscal Treaty Debate, which will take place on Monday 21 May. Get your ‘Hiya Mammy’ signs ready now.

RURAL SUPPORTERS (AND NON-SUPPORTERS) OF THE DAY

Major farming organisations have come out in support of a Yes vote today with the IFA, Macra the ICMSA and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association joining the Yes camp. There’s at least one chicken who’s not on board with them though…

Toirleach O Murchu (3) dressed as a chicken, stood outside goverment buildings to demonstrate that the ” Sky Wont Fall In ” if the electorate vote No in the European Fiscal Stability Treaty Referendum. Photo: Sam Boal /photocall Ireland.

BITE-SIZE TREATY TWEETS

Social media professionals involved in Business for Ireland (which is advocating a Yes vote) have set up a TweetSizeTreaty Twitter page in order to ‘explain the Stability Treaty in 20 tweets‘, as well as some trivia, like this:

THE EU IS ‘P***ING DOWN OUR BACKS’

Tell it like it is David McWilliams!

Read in full: The Fiscal Compact Treaty in laymans’ terms (PDF)>

Read more: TheJournal.ie’s coverage of the Fiscal Compact referendum>