from the Irish People’s Movement press release:

Reacting to the news that the Referendum Commission has been receiving its legal advice from a law firm that provides services to an industry lobby group which is campaigning for a YES vote, while the public information campaign is being run by consultants who were appointed by a tender offered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Patricia McKenna former Green Party MEP and chairperson of the People’s Movement said:

“I am deeply shocked and disturbed to hear where the Referendum Commission’s legal advice and marketing of this important voter information is originating from. As someone who called for the early establishment of the Referendum Commission to provide independent information to voters, and as someone who was instrumental in its original establishment because of a court action I took to safeguard democracy during referendums some years ago, this is very disturbing. This evening there are serious questions hanging over the credibility, role and so-called ‘independence’ of the Referendum Commission to date.”

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Our comment: Referendum Commission has been established and tested just before Nice I. referendum. Since this referendum resulted in a NO, political rulers changed and diminished it’s role which resulted in a YES at Nice II. referendum. Apparently political elites are quite capable to destroy or by-pass good, affirmative and democratic attempts.

ADDITION: An attempt to motivate Irish to vote looked like this: Youtube with Keith Barry.