Referendum body campaign opens

The Referendum Commission has said the Government has already decided not to exercise its veto in relation to the emergency bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism.

The independent commission, chaired by High Court judge Mr Justice Kevin Feeney launched its information campaign this morning in Dublin.

No campaigners have argued the Government can exercise a veto to prevent the ESM coming into being should the Treaty be rejected.

But responding to questions this morning,Mr Justice Feeney said the Government had already chosen not to exercise a veto and all that remained was for two pieces of legislation that will give effect to the ESM to be ratified by the Oireachtas.

He said he was straying into the politic domain when responding to this but indicated that given the large majority enjoyed in parliament by supporters of a Yes vote, this was unlikely to be vetoed in the Dáil or Seanad.

Asked about when the operation of the deficit rule requiring a one-twentieth reduction would come into being, Mr Justice Feeney said that was a matter on which the five-person commission had yet to complete its deliberations.

Questioned whether the commission been given sufficient time, he said the booklet was ready for publication a week earlier than the comparable booklet prepared for last October's referendums.

He said the commission believed that next week was the most appropriate time to distribute the leaflet to two million homes.

He said it was also helped by the fact that the referendum was the "only show in town" and was not taking place on the same day as another referendum or election.