THE defeat of the 30th Amendment to the Constitution on Oireachtas Inquiries has been greeted, perhaps predictably, by comments from ministers Brendan Howlin and Alan Shatter that the electorate was confused, and perhaps even misinformed, about the proposal.

THE Government has sought to end an unseemly row between one of its ministers and the independent Referendum Commission by reaffirming its faith in the body trusted with refereeing campaigns to change the Constitution.