The Workers' Party has stated that the only notable feature of the appearance of EU Commission President José Barosso at the Forum on Europe today was "his total refusal to answer any questions in relation to the leaked Mulhall e-mail".

Speaking after the Forum meeting Padraig Mannion, Workers Party delegate to the Forum, stated "Mr Barosso spoke to the Forum for at least 40 minutes, and 30 of those were devoted to answering questions from participants.He was asked by at least three people to deal with the Mulhall e-mail but he deliberately did not do so".

"Mr Barosso is an experienced and wily politician. He is well aware of the controversy that is raging over these leaked briefings. He could not confirm the truth of the e-mails as it would totally destroy the carefully constructed facade of the Yes campaign. Neither was he prepared to risk being caught out in a blatant lie. So in essence he pleaded the fifth amendment and sang dumb".

"Mr Barosso's visit to Ireland is part of a very elaborate and expensive campaign to persuade the Irish people to amend our constitution in the forthcoming referendum. His refusal to deal with the fundamental questions of democracy, transparency and media manipulation when given an open floor is most disturbing. Barosso was here as a parrot for the government and even when the truth cried out to be told he refused to deviate from his supplied script"