Sir, - I refer to a recent leaked Oireachtas Committee document on the funding of referendums, also discussed on Questions and Answers on RTE, particularly the proposal to prohibit foreign funding of referendums as it could unfairly affect the outcome. In support, it was alleged that antiabortion groups received massive funding from the United States in 1983 and 1992. This is untrue.
I was personally closely associated with the Pro-Life Amendment Campaign in 1983 and the Pro-Life Campaign in 1992. Some unsolicited money was received from the US but it amounted to no more than a few thousand dollars, certainly no more than 1-2 per cent of total expenditure. In general, Irish pro-life supporters are far more numerous than their opponents and more inclined to put their money where their mouths are.
Massive funds from outside the State can unfairly affect a referendum campaign. It can also unfairly affect a general election and most political parties here raise money abroad. Are we suggesting that practice should also end? In referendums, however, foreign funding for pro-abortion groups is more likely than for pro-life groups.
The proposal to circumvent the McKenna judgement is incredible. It is fine to discuss a referendum proposal for three months before putting it to the people, unlike all the recent rushed referendums. The 1983 Amendment was actually debated for over 10 months before the people voted upon it. But the idea of giving each TD public money to circularise constituents with a brochure propagating his or her views on a referendum proposal is unworthy of even a Soviet apparatchik! The party bosses would write the brochures and post them to each voter three to five times, depending on constituency size and manipulate the eventual poll by saturation coverage.
Groups campaigning in referendums should fund themselves. If the public see that they represent their views they will donate voluntarily. Political parties and deputies can do likewise using their own money. And there is nothing to stop them campaigning on the issue, always remembering that a referendum is a matter for the people to decide, not for politicians to manipulate. - Yours, etc.,
John O'Reilly, Secretary, Pro-Life Campaign, Gardiner Street Upr., Dublin 1.