Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

People would not be seeking a debate on the two forthcoming referendums, if the Referendum Commission was doing the job it is paid for. The commission has fallen short and has failed miserably to communicate the message concerning both referendums. The Referendum Commission is funded from taxpayers' money. The Leader should communicate our displeasure and dissatisfaction at the behaviour of the commission and the manner in which it has gone about its business. The Leader should also establish how much money the commission is being paid to run an information campaign on these referendums and revert to us with those figures. It is pitiful. Everybody knows the presidential election is on 27 October, but the Referendum Commission should have prepared itself accordingly. Its information has been poor, confusing and too late.

I am also seeking a debate on the libel laws. The Leader should speak to the Minister for Justice and Equality to see if there are any plans to bring new legislation forward to tighten the current libel laws. Every citizen has a right to a good name and due process. I am not mentioning anything in particular but I am concerned about some things that have happened in recent times. I do not want to see Ministers telephoning the director general of RTE willy-nilly. We saw what went on with Ray Burke in the early 1990s.