So I have written critically on the presence of any information campaign as to the workings of the Lisbon Treaty. The fact remains that while Sinn Fein are scaling our telephone polls to encourage us to vote no, when there is not even a suggested referendum date in mind, balanced information or a showing from the Yes camp is slow to emerge. The term talking shop is thrown as a slur at many institutions, however that is exactly what the National Forum on Europe is and its current roadshow around the country is to be welcomed. Stephen Collins in The Irish Times last week, described Eamonn Gilmore’s address to the Forum as as his best speech since taking over the reins of leadership and an example of the instructive guidance we require. Conversely the Referendum Commission has yet to be established, its work on representing effectively what is contained within the Treaty is likely to be an involved task so I feel it should begin its work as promptly as possible even when polling day is still an undecided matter. This is especially true if there is to be the equally complex issue of the rights of children for us to consider. A blog I’ve returned to when my faculties allow is GrahnLaw which methodically works its way through each of the issues and is proving a worthwhile read.