It would be difficult to conduct a proper information campaign [1] in advance of major referendums on marriage, family and the support for mothers in the home, if the Government schedules votes for November, according to the chief executive of the Electoral Commission, Art O’Leary.
The Irish Times asked Mr O’Leary if, in the absence of the wording being finalised before the return of the Dáil in September, the November referendum date is unlikely.
He replied: “It is difficult to see how we could do a proper information campaign if we had less than the 14 to 16 weeks required.”
He said he understands how complex the issues to be put to the people are, adding that some of the choices to be made “require some deep thought because when you go to the people of Ireland and say we’d like to change our basic law, to do such a thing you need to be on firm ground”.
Mr O’Leary also said the Government and Houses of the Oireachtas will do as they desire and “we’ll deal with whatever comes.”
His remarks indicate that, ideally, the wording would be ready in August, for the commission to have between 14 and 16 weeks for the information campaign in advance of a November referendum.