Fianna Fáil claims the government has been 'misleading voters' in the run-up to the Seanad referendum after Oireachtas authorities said yesterday that the abolition of the Seanad might not save 20 million euro a year.

The Houses of the Oireachtas have told the Referendum Commission that while the Seanad costs 20 million a year, not all of that can be saved through abolition.

Leinster House authorities say there are 8.8 million euro a year in 'direct' costs, but another 9.3 million in 'indirect costs' and 2 million in pensions.

Fianna Fáil's Director of Elections is Niall Collins.