Can Irish avert EU crisis?

A SENIOR Irish Government minister has warned Europe would be plunged into crisis if voters reject the Lisbon Treaty for a second time.

With three days to go until the all-important referendum re-run both pro and anti-treaty groups are ratcheting up their efforts to sway the electorate.

Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin said there was no back-up plan if voters throw out the controversial charter on Friday.

While opinion polls have given the Yes side a commanding lead, Mr Martin said campaigners would continue blitzing the country to woo undecided voters.

"There are no contingency plans," he said.

"The bottom line is if Lisbon doesn't go through I think it puts Europe into a crisis position because we do believe, all of us involved in the European Union, that the reforms which are quite modest actually in the Lisbon Treaty are necessary to enable Europe to play a more effective role on the world stage."

The latest round of opinion polls have put the Yes side well in front, with more than half of all voters claiming they would back the controversial charter.