Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Darragh O'Brien, I wish to express my horror and outrage at the attack on the two young girls in Athlone reported at the weekend.

Everyone will share this feeling of disgust. The Senator was quite right to say that this was a matter for the Garda. We should all commend the Garda on its proactive investigation and leave the matter at that in terms of public comment. It was an appalling incident.

Last week, I was asked as Deputy Leader to communicate with Fine Gael regarding its referendum advertising campaign. I stress that it is not a Government campaign. There are two parties, both of which are in government, that are running two campaigns. Particular exception was taken by colleagues to the Fine Gael advertisement's figure of €20 million. I wrote to Mr. Tom Curran, Fine Gael's general secretary, and to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, Fine Gael's director of elections, asking that the posters be withdrawn and that the slogan be rejected on the basis of the comments made in this House, which I do not need to rehearse. The figures have been utterly refuted and undermined.