Fianna Fáil Front Bench Spokesperson Niall Collins TD is calling on Minister Richard Bruton to confirm whether he was aware that the Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Commission was going to be the spokesperson for a new campaign group supporting the Government Proposal to Abolish the Seanad.
Richard Bruton is both Mr Kieran Mulvey’s line minister and the Director of Elections for the Government referendum campaign.
Deputy Collins commented: “I find it very surprising that Minister Bruton is accepting the involvement of Mr Kieran Mulvey in what is essentially a political campaign. It is inconceivable that Minister Bruton or any of his colleagues would accept such involvement if he was working to oppose Government policy. In a referendum campaign where one of the major concerns is the Government’s effort to limit public debate and consolidate power, the involvement of the Head of a powerful public body in this way raises serious questions.
“It has always been an established and accepted practice that senior civil servants do not get involved in political campaigns and that they are seen to be apolitical. It is a matter of genuine concern that this long established and very sensible precedent appears to have been discarded in order to bolster a flagging Government campaign. Minister Bruton is moving into dangerous territory and I would call on him to immediately ask Mr Mulvey to withdraw his involvement.”