Seanad debates
Thursday, 12 September 2002
An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim. Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage.
How can we increase turnout? Information on the referendum must be forthcoming. The Referendum Commission documentation prior to the last vote was, unfortunately, an addition to the confusion rather than a clarification. It made no sense to the majority of voters. Tens of thousands of people did not vote because they did not understand the issues. On this occasion, documentation from the Government and from political parties must be sharper and concise. I am aware that the McKenna judgment imposes certain restrictions on Government but it is vital that the key issues are presented in a transparent and understandable fashion. It is not patronising to say the people did not fully understand the issue last year. This year, all practising politicians must ensure there is no repetition of what happened then, when all of us knew hundreds of people in our constituencies who simply did not understand the issues and decided not to vote.
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