Howlin criticises Referendum Commission

The Referendum Commission is defending its role in the referendum campaign.

It follows the defeat of the referendum on Oireachtas powers of inquiry yesterday.

The Government said it was disappointed at the result - and Minister Brendan Howlin appeared to suggest that the Chairman of the Referendum Commission might have caused confusion among the electorate.

In a statement this evening the Commission said it regretted that Mr Howlin "personalised" the issue by criticising Chairman Bryan McMahon over the Commission’s explanation of the proposed referendum to voters.

The Commission says "it is absolutely satisfied as to the accuracy and reliability" of its mesage and that it's satisfied that it carried out its duty with the independence and neutrality required by law.