AG may leave referendum decision to government

The Attorney General might not give a straight Yes or No answer on the constitutionality of the fiscal treaty, writes Gavin Barrett.

Gavin Barrett: 'This does not necessarily mean that Whelan will decide whether we have a referendum.'
Gavin Barrett: 'This does not necessarily mean that Whelan will decide whether we have a referendum.'

Attorney General Máire Whelan is reportedly to advise the government sooner rather than later on whether the new fiscal treaty will require a referendum in order to be ratified. Failure by the government to follow the advice of an Attorney General (AG) in this regard would be unthinkable - and would also normally be regarded as a resigning matter ...