On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I raise serious questions and I ask for a debate on the role of the Electoral Commission in these referendums and the might of what the Government has done in light of the landmark McKenna judgment. Last week we saw Ms Orla O'Connor being appointed by the commission in the middle of a referendum campaign to its research advisory group. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, has stated that she knows more than the judge who is chair of the commission. We had the Taoiseach's free run on the "Six One" news one evening last week, and today the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, told us that a yes vote would mean carers would get more supports. That is downright misinformation because it is untrue.

No, it is not.

You had the cheek earlier to talk about misinformation.

Hold on-----

It is misinformation and buying votes. The Taoiseach can smirk all he likes-----

Buying the electorate.

-----but the people know what is going on and the Government will get a fine kick in the you-know-where next week on Friday or Saturday and the smirk will be on the other side of his face. It is downright blatant abuse of a system. The Electoral Commission is not to be trusted now.

Deputy.

All the parties here, yes, you are all great people.

It has been mainly people outside the House.

Deputy, your time is up, please.

You cannot buy votes.

Deputy, please.

The Government should not be putting that kind of full-page advertising in the Irish Independent today.

Deputy, please. The time is up.

It is buying votes. It is blatant interference.

Deputy McGrath has many years on me and much more experience but, really, with experience should come wisdom. What we heard today is just the latest conspiracy theory. I am not sure who he has involved in it this time. He left out the World Economic Forum on this occasion but I think he had the Irish Independent and the Referendum Commission, which does not even exist any more.