Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

Whoever drafted that reply for the Minister of State was being economical with the truth. As we approach the 12 June and the Lisbon referendum campaign, in effect, a quarter of the electorate is functionally illiterate. Is that a fair interpretation of what the Minister of State said? Two million people are entitled to vote, give or take those aged between 16 and 18. The Minister of State said a quarter of the adult population is functionally illiterate. Is that a fair interpretation of the verbiage the Minister of State has given me by way of reply?

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