Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 30 March 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Working Group on Unification Referendums: Discussion

Photo of John McGahonJohn McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I have several questions regarding points 46 to 50 in the executive summary of the report, regarding campaign conduct rules. This morning we had representatives from Facebook and Twitter before the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to talk about the digital side of campaigning, including political advertisements, etc. There are clearly two different jurisdictions in play here when it comes to finance and acceptable donations. How do we reconcile that disparity? Is it a case that we just have to play by the rules of both jurisdictions? I ask that because there are clearly advantages and disadvantages, depending on which jurisdiction one operates out of.

Turning to point 46, referring to the role of Governments during the campaign, what role is envisaged by the witnesses? Would the campaigns be left to the political parties to fight or would the Governments have a role to play? Moving to point 50, which mentions amending the Referendum Acts and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in the United Kingdom, what are the big sticking points and major differences between a UK referendum and an Irish referendum? Are there major differences or sticking points regarding how referendums are carried out in the two jurisdictions? What is it specifically that should be amended in the UK legislation?

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