An Post stamp could influence referendum

The article by Dr Seán Ó’Conaill of UCC Faculty of Law (Equality terminology maybe troublesome for government, Irish Examiner, February 13) was timely and interesting. 

The Government has been chastised in three Supreme Court judgments for acting wrongfully when spending money and using resources on propaganda that was not fair, equal or impartial but intended to influence the outcome of constitutional referenda.

Under the theme Love and Marriage 2015 and coinciding with St Valentine’s Day, An Post issued a new LOVE postage stamp based on a typographic form of the word love and a graphical representation of a heart.

The capital letter ‘E’ in the word love on this new stamp incorporates the equality symbol.

Dr Ó’Conaill points out that when the Supreme Court considered the McCrystal challenge following the Childrens Referendum in 2012 the Court ruled that information published by the Government was clearly biased in favour of a yes vote and the Court noted that certain aspects of the Facebook page of the Government’s information campaign were unconstitutional — thus placing an emphasis on imagery in the presentation of information.

An Post is a state agency operating under the auspices of Communications Minister, Alex White. Is the Government about to be challenged and chastised in another court judgment for illegal and biased advocacy in a referendum giving rise to legal uncertainty and constitutional ambiguity?

Myles Duffy

Glenageary

Co Dublin