Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2024-05-22
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Peadar Tóibín (AON), Meath West

Two months ago, the Government disastrously lost two referendums. It spent €23 million to run the referendums. At the time, we in Aontú, the only party that opposed the referendums, stated clearly that the Government was misleading the people in respect of the tax elements that would affect the people, what was meant by durable relationships and how the courts would see it, and what was meant by the immigration elements. Since the referendums, we have found that the Attorney General agreed with us and stated there would be a lack of clarity in the courts on the definition of a "durable relationship". He also stated there was no clarity around the definition of "strive". We also read in yesterday's edition of The Irish Times that Revenue officials warned privately that the family referendum would force tax changes and that consequent legislation would be necessary. We know the Department also warned the Government about potential confusion around the issue of immigration.
Right through that referendum campaign, all Ministers stated there was no confusion around those issues. All of the evidence that has come out since has shown that Ministers were not telling the truth. They were lying about what happened. They were misleading the people of the country. I would like for the Taoiseach to-----

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2024-05-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2024-05-22