‘Cranks’ identified

SPEAKING at the Joint Committee on the Constitution, the chairman of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, Willie O’Reilly, is reported (November 12) as expressing concern at the practice whereby media outlets are required to provide equal time to both sides in a referendum debate “regardless of the merit” of any argument.

He describes the situation as “a cranks’ charter”. I couldn’t agree more.

In the run-up to the Lisbon referendum, we were all subjected to a daily parade of Government and opposition spokespersons frantically urging us to vote yes. Failing to see any “merit” in their arguments, the Irish people wisely voted no.