Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not propose to dwell on this. We have debated it, the committee has discussed it, and I am fairly well across the detail on it. However, I agree with the point made by Deputy Naughten. As the Minister of State knows, my party has not taken a position. Like every political party, mine has its own decision-making processes, but we have supported the holding of a referendum and will take a position closer to the time. It would be doing a disservice to the referendum and its wording if people went into the polling station not fully aware of what the referendum was about. There is potential for it to get swamped by whatever elections are on the same day, be it one, two, three or 20.

We support the holding of the referendum and do not have any difficulty with it, but in order for people to engage on it, it is important that the information be available. In that regard, Deputy Naughten has made an interesting suggestion that I hope the Government will examine and engage on.

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