Written answers
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Referendum Campaigns
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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182. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she is taking to ensure that organisations, including State bodies under the aegis of her Department as well as non-governmental organisations and charities that are in receipt of funding from her Department, do not use any portion of such funding to campaign or promote a position in favour or against any outcome of the forthcoming referenda on Articles 41.1.1, 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 of the Constitution, thereby breaching the McKenna principles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6770/24]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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In accordance with standing procedure, officials in my Department issued a guidance note last December to all Ministers and civil servants within my Department in respect of the application of the principles of the various Court judgments relevant to the Government’s role in referendum campaigns, which are generally referred to as the ‘McKenna/McCrystal principles’. I can also confirm that my Department brought the guidance note to the attention of bodies under my Department's aegis. The guidance note is based on advice received from the Attorney General’s Office.
In short summary, these principles require that any information disseminated by the Government or any agencies or bodies involving the use of public funds must be equal, fair, impartial and neutral. These principles also state that the Government is not entitled to spend public money for the purpose of promoting a campaign for a particular outcome.
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