Referendum Commission

Information

A new referendum commission is set up for each new referendum that takes place, if the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government makes a ministerial order to appoint a commission.

The primary role of a referendum commission is to explain the subject matter of referendum proposals, to promote public awareness of the referendum and to encourage the electorate to vote at the poll.

Each referendum commission prepares independent and unbiased information about the referendum and makes that information available to the public. The commission publishes and distributes leaflets and brochures giving general information about the referendum. It prepares a statement or statements on the main issues and it may include any other information which it considers appropriate. It also promotes debate and discussion about the referendum and may also advertise the referendum in the media.

It may use television, radio, press, outdoor and cinema advertising and any other media over the weeks in advance of the referendum to give general information about the issues involved. The television broadcasts are subtitled and a special video of the information booklet is produced in Irish sign language and is distributed to members of the deaf community. The commission's information booklets are also produced in Braille and audiotape for distribution to people with visual impairments.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government may establish a referendum commission after (and not before) the date on which a Constitution Amendment Bill is initiated in Dáil Éireann. In the case of an "ordinary referendum", the Minister may establish a referendum commission no later than the date of the order appointing polling day.

A referendum commission comprises a chairperson who must be a former Supreme Court judge or a serving or former High Court judge nominated by the Chief Justice; the Comptroller and Auditor General; the Ombudsman; and the Clerks of the Dáil and the Seanad.

The referendum commission must carry out its functions in a way that is fair to everyone concerned.

Referenda in 2012

An order under the Referendum Act 1998 was made on 30 March 2012 establishing a Referendum Commission for the forthcoming referendum on the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012. This referendum will take place on 31 May 2012.

It is expected that a referendum on the rights of children will take place at a later date in 2012.