Coalition defends fiscal treaty website

WEBSITE DISPUTE:THE GOVERNMENT has defended the neutrality of its website on the fiscal treaty in the face of protests by the No campaign that it is "skewed" and potentially in conflict with a court judgment ruling against government bias in information campaigns.

A Government spokeswoman last night rejected criticisms by Sinn Féin and the Socialist Party that the website Stabilitytreaty.iewas a propaganda website in favour of the treaty. The spokeswoman said the website and its content had been approved by Attorney General Máire Whelan.

The website is part of a €2 million Government information campaign in the run-up to the poll on May 31st. It will also include the publication and distribution of a 40-page booklet containing the text of the treaty and an explanatory section. A further pamphlet will be distributed closer to the date. However, No campaigners have alleged the Government website contains speeches by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and other Ministers as well as information that Sinn Féin said gave a very favourable view of the treaty, without pointing out any shortcomings.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said the site did not specifically tell voters to vote Yes but the entire content of the site was “skewed” in that direction.

She said that, generally, Sinn Féin was in support of the idea of the text of the treaty being sent to every home. However, she said that once the Government began adding its own information, it changed the dynamic.

“The Government is stepping into that space and undermining the role of the Referendum Commission. They are spending in the region of €2 million providing what they claim is factual and unbiased information,” she said on RTÉ. “It has no right to use public money to advocate for a Yes vote,” she added.

Dublin Socialist MEP Paul Murphy said the website was sailing “extremely close to the wind” and if the booklet breached the McKenna ruling he would seek an injunction to prevent distribution.

“It is outrageous that €2 million of taxpayers’ funds is to be wasted on what seems to be a desperate Government propaganda campaign,” he said.

“Far from being a neutral or balanced presentation of the debate, the website is propaganda for the Yes side.”

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn rejected the contentions.