Court told referendum material is 'persuasive' towards 'yes' vote

The High Court has been told that all that is missing from the government's information campaign on the Children's Referendum is the word 'yes'.

Mark McCrystal, an engineer from Kilbarrack, Dublin, claims €1.1m of public money is being used to distribute material that is designed to influence the electorate to support the upcoming vote to amend the constitution.

His lawyers say the unleashing of this sort of professional campaign on the public is relatively novel and they say the booklets and advertising are full of 'reassuring, persuasive material'.

The court has heard the state parties deny the information provided is unbalanced.