Vol. 438 No. 7
219 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if, with regard to the forthcoming referendum, in the event of the Government expending public money in campaigning for a desired result, equal or proportionate sums of public money will be provided to identifiable organisations and groups who oppose the Government's expressed desired result.
220 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if, having regard to the forthcoming referendum on divorce, the Government intends following the practice of the last two referenda to expend public funds providing information about the issue in the referendum and campaigning for such a desired result, by way of press advertisements, bill-board advertisements and the dissemination to households of free booklets advocating the Government's point through the post or otherwise; and whether it intends to insert radio or television advertisements supporting the Government's views.
221 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, in view of his recent statement that the Government will take steps to persuade people to support them in the forthcoming referendum on divorce, the meaning of such persuasion; and the method of persuasion.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 220 and 221 together.
I can confirm that, as in the case of previous referenda, the Government intends to pursue an information campaign in the run-up to the divorce referendum. The details of the campaign will be announced in due course. There are no proposals to fund the campaigns of groups who oppose the Government's proposals. The effect of High Court decisions is that, while the Government has a duty to explain the implications of any referendum proposals to the public and a right to spend public moneys in so doing, there is no obligation, on the part of Government, to fund groups who oppose those proposals.
