26/04/2012

Biased Speeches Removed From Government Website

A number of speeches promoting a Yes vote in the fiscal treaty referendum have been removed from a Government information website, after questions of neutrality.

The website - www.stability.ie - originally carried the texts of speeches by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, and Minister of State Lucinda Creighton advocating a Yes vote.

Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy quoted one of them at an Oireachtas sub-committee on the treaty, which the Taoiseach at which the appearing, and questioned the neutrality of the texts on what is meant to be an information site.

A Government spokesman confirmed the texts have now been removed to respect the McKenna Judgment, which bans public funds being used to advocate one side in a referendum.

The spokesman said the judgment comes into force on Monday when the Referendum Order is signed, adding that the Government made no apology for advocating a position in advance of that.

(H)


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