High Court hears SF challenge to Referendum Commission
The High Court has begun hearing a last minute challenge by Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty to the Referendum Commission.
It relates to statements made by the Commission in respect of Ireland's ability to veto the ESM.
Sinn Féin claim that the Referendum Commission was wrong when it stated that the government no longer had a veto in relation to the European Stability Mechanism.
TD Pearse Doherty's lawyers said that the statement was seized upon by the media and has had a gigantic effect on public understanding of the issue.
They said that it was also seized upon by elements of the Yes side and used against Sinn Féin who claim it is open to the government of its own motion not to ratify the ESM decision.
They said that the Referendum Commission clarified the issue in a later statement but failed to properly publicise the correction.
Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, this evening accused Sinn Féin of making a mockery of our legal system and called their High Court challenge a cynical and frivolous and a pathetic attempt to garner attention before the media blackout, which is due to kick in tomorrow lunchtime.
Judge Gerard Hogan will give his ruling tomorrow morning.
