Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1051: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the decision by the European Parliament's budgetary committee to spend €8 million on a biased pro-EU constitution campaign is consistent with the Referendum Act 2001; the restrictions imposed on such a campaign by the Act. [9881/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Referendum Acts 1998 and 2001 provide for the establishment of a referendum commission whenever a referendum falls to be held. A referendum commission has the statutory role of explaining the subject matter of the referendum to the electorate and providing any other relevant information which it considers appropriate. Since 2001, the commission must also promote public awareness of the referendum and encourage the electorate to vote at the poll.

Regarding the referendum on the European constitution, the Government has made clear its commitment to ensuring that the commission to be established in respect of the referendum will have the time and resources that it requires to fulfil its mandate.

I understand that the additional funding made available to the European Commission through this year's EU budget has been allocated to all member states on a per capita basis to support the provision of non-partisan information on the European constitution to all EU citizens, including initiatives at Commission level, such as an information website and distribution of information brochures. I further understand that the proportionately small element of the funding allocated to Ireland is being used by the Commission office in Dublin to ensure that an adequate supply of copies of the constitution is available free of charge to members of the public. The Commission and the European Parliament office are also distributing copies of the constitution to public representatives, civil society organisations, schools, libraries and other such bodies.

Having regard to the above, while the activities of the European institutions are not subject to the provisions of the Referendum Acts, I am confident that the information campaign will complement the work of the referendum commission and is consistent with the principles of the Referendum Acts.