The Taoiseach said a joint statement by the political parties supporting the referendum on Cabinet confidentiality would be very useful. The suggestion was made by the Labour leader, Mr Dick Spring, who said it would give a clear indication of support for the proposal. Mr Ahern told Mr Spring, who had expressed concern about the lack of debate on the referendum, that a £400,000 information campaign had been initiated by the Government.

The Bar Council had nominated two members, both senior counsel, to prepare statements setting out the arguments for and against the proposal, which would form the basis of an information campaign. These would be published, with the text of the referendum, in the national and local press.

"I am satisfied that these measures meet the standards of fairness and impartiality required in the use of public funds. I believe that the outlay is sufficient to ensure an informed public understanding of the issue is achieved by polling day," Mr Ahern said.

"A great deal of care and consideration was invested in preparing the proposal which is being submitted to the people. That consideration sought to establish a balance between confidentiality and disclosure in the public interest. I believe that a satisfactory balance was achieved."

The Taoiseach rejected a suggestion that the issue should be dealt with by way of legislation rather than in a referendum.

Mr Ahern said governments could not promote a Bill without being absolutely certain that it was in accordance with the Constitution. "That fact is that in this case it would not," he added. He was replying to Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) who accused the current Cabinet of ensuring that the truth about the Ansbacher accounts, and the shady reasons for their existence, had not come to light. He said Cabinet votes as well as discussions would be prohibited from being revealed under the proposed constitutional amendment.

There was huge hypocrisy among the major parties on the matter, given that Ministers and former ministers leaked with impunity to the media when they wished to get one side of the story across, he said. He urged the Taoiseach to introduce legislation rather than use the "crude straitjacket" of a constitutional amendment.

Mr Ahern said he had already stated that the all-party committee on the Constitution could look at the issue of cabinet confidentiality again if this was felt to be necessary. A considerable amount of time had been put into the referendum wording and a large volume of data compiled by the previous government had been given to him when he came into office.

"Collective responsibility is, in my view, a very important part of how a government runs a democracy. The publication of memoranda, decisions, orientations are also very important, but why anyone would want to know the discussion and who said what arising from a collective group, I do not know," he added.