Welcome

Under the Referendum Act 1998, on each occasion that a referendum falls to be held, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government may, at his discretion, appoint a Referendum Commission. The Commission is required to present a report to that Minister within 6 months of polling day and the Commission dissolves one month later.

Latest Information

On 5 September, the Minister appointed a referendum commission for the 29th Amendment to the Constitution (Judges' Remuneration) Bill 2011. A further commission was appointed on 13 September in relation to the 30th Amendment to the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011. Both commissions are chaired by Dr Bryan McMahon, retired Judge of the High Court.

The Referendum Commission has begun its work and launched an information campaign for both referendums on 11 October 2011. The commission has also launched a dedicated website www.referendum2011.ie

Role of the Referendum Commission

The role of the 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. The Commission is an independent body. (Since 2001 the Commission no longer has the role of putting the arguments for and against referendum proposals.)

Membership of the Referendum Commission

The Commission is Chaired by a former member of the High Court or the Supreme Court or by a serving member of the High Court. The Chairman is appointed by the Chief Justice at the request of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. There are four ex officio members. They are:

The Clerk of Dáil Éireann
The Clerk of Seanad Éireann
The Ombudsman
The Comptroller and Auditor General

The Secretariat to the Commission is provided by the Office of the Ombudsman. The Commission is funded by the sponsoring Department of the relevant referendum proposal, e.g. the funding for the referendum on Judges' Pay is being provided by the Department of Justice and Equality, and that for the referendum on Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.