LIMERICK Fine Gael Minister of State, Kieran O’Donnell, today conceded that the government’s call for a Yes/Yes vote in the referendums on Family and Care had been roundly defeated on Shannonside.
Speaking at the Limerick Count Centre, Limerick Racecourse, Patrickswell, Minister O’Donnell thanked staff who had counted the votes and, prior to an official result, conceded “it looks like it is very much going to be a No vote”.
“In government we will have to reflect on the outcome and see why people voted No. Certainly confusion was an aspect in the decision of people voting No, and we need to go back and reflect on the way people have voted and why people have voted No,” he said.
Addressing allegations made yesterday, (Friday) Minister O’Donnell said he did not believe his party leader and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had broken electoral rules after he appeared in a referendum campaign video outside a polling station, where he had moments earlier voted in the referendums.
“We in government would be of the view that the Taoiseach did not in any way breach any electoral acts,” added Minister O’Donnell.
The Limerick TD said also said he did not believe Roderic O’Gorman should resign over his handling of the referendums, and particularly over how he handled advice received from the Attorney General about the wording and potential legal consequences of the referendums.
“Roderic O’Gorman has very much led this referenda and we (the government) put forward the merits of the argument, and I think in many cases people would have agreed with the sentiments but when it came to voting, I think many voted No because of confusion.”
