Leaks warning ahead of referendum

The Government has been warned it risks causing alarm among voters in the run-up to the children’s referendum by leaking budget considerations, particularly on child benefit.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said kite-flying on cuts to the children’s allowance “potentially is a problem” in efforts to convince the public to vote in favour of constitutional changes to protect children.

Launching his party’s campaign for a yes vote, he said there are “quite substantial numbers that are not fully informed in terms of the content or purpose of the referendum”.