A further breakdown of “significant and substantial” costs incurred by the family and care referenda is required, Laois-Offaly TD Carol Nolan has said. The TD made the comments after the Department for Public Expenditure confirmed, in answer to a Parliamentary Question, that the referendum cost approximately €21 million.
Deputy Nolan had asked the Department for an itemised breakdown of estimated costs including wage costs, printing, and rental of venues, as well as the costs of the activities of the Electoral Commission.
In response, the department said that a breakdown of the costs of the referendums held on 8 March would not be available until six months after the referendums were held, given this is the deadline for Returning Officers to submit all costs to the department.
However, the department confirmed that it is estimated that the costs over which the Department has oversight will be approximately €21 million euro, of which €17 million was spent in payments to Returning Officers to facilitate the running of the referendums.
The department confirmed that a further €3.5 million was paid to An Post to cover the postal costs associated with the referendums. €400,000 was spent in smaller payments to the the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Office of Public Works,
“Costs incurred by the Electoral Commission are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage,” the Department said.
“While there is no doubt that our Returning Officers play an important role in the democratic process there is also a clear sense that these are significant costs that require a further detailed breakdown,” Deputy Nolan said in response.
Meanwhile, the Rural Independents have called for a debate on the government’s decision to hold the referendums and the subsequent results. In the Dáil on Wednesday, the Rural Independent group called for a debate on the results of the referendum in order to discuss what they said was a “waste of €23 million of taxpayers’ money” along with the “concerning” influence of NGOs, who are being paid €6 billion annually.
Deputy Nolan also blasted what she said was a “lack of transparency” regarding the response given by Minister Roderic O’Gorman in February when the Minister for Equality refused to publish minutes of meetings that he had with NGOs prior to the referendum.
Calls to vote on the matter were declined by seven votes.
“I will continue to ask the hard questions of Government and call out the squandering of the taxpayers’ hard earned money. I will also continue to call for the regulation and defunding of NGOs who don’t represent public interest but self interest,” Deputy Nolan said.
Meanwhile, the results of this month’s referendums were highlighted in the Seanad on Wednesday by Senator Sharon Keogan.
“We return to the House after the public vehemently and resoundingly rejected the proposals of the family and the care referendums,” she said.
“Today should mark a turning point for this Government and become a day on which the Government finally listens to the real concerns, difficulties and everyday issues of the population.
“With a voter turnout of 44%, the Government is now forced to acknowledge it is not listening to the pertinent issues of the public. Ireland does not need symbolic change but real changes.”
Senator Keogan said that the public had “sent a clear message” with the result of the referendums, adding:
“They want their Government to handle crises and real social problems. They want the Government to, at long last, act on its mandate while this Government believes its goal is to score its success by appeasing ideological fantasies instead of the electorate. The women and mothers of Ireland have made their voices heard.”
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