DUBLIN, Ireland, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The Irish government faces a tough battle getting the Lisbon Treaty ratified in the Oct. 2 referendum, Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin said Friday.
The latest Irish Times poll indicates support for the proposal has declined through the summer, though the "yes" side is still ahead with 46 percent of poll participants with four weeks to go. That's a drop of eight points since May, the Times says.
Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland must also complete ratification of the treaty, which introduces a powerful European Union foreign policy chief, a president of the European Council and gives greater powers to the European Parliament.
"There is a very significant challenge ahead, it's going to be a very tight campaign and it will demand all of the resources, conviction, politics and passion of all of those on the 'yes' side," Martin told Ireland's public broadcasting network, RTE.
