Referenda - Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government

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Referenda

There are two types of referenda in Ireland:

Constitutional Referendum

When the Government wishes to change something in the Irish Constitution it must hold a constitutional referendum.

Ordinary Referendum

When the Government wishes to introduce a law of national importance, the Seanad and the Dáil can petition the president to hold a referendum.

Further information is available in the related documents on the right hand side of your screen or on the citizens information website (external link)

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Publications & Documents

The Referendum in Ireland (pdf, 111 kb)
1937 - 2011 Referenda Results (pdf, 574 kb)
The Register of Electors - English (pdf, 202 kb)
Information for People with Disabilities (pdf, 124 kb)
more publications

News and Speeches

30/04/12: Referendum on the Stability Treaty
30/04/12: Referendum on the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2012
30/03/12: Minister Hogan Establishes a Referendum Commission on the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012
26/09/11: Hogan signs Referendums polling day order
Press/Media

Legislation

SI 79 of 2012 - European Union (Citizens' Initiative) Regulations (pdf, 145 kb)
General Scheme of the Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011 (doc, 154 kb)
Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007 (pdf, 48 kb)
SI 355 of 2007 Constituency Commission (Membership) Order (pdf, 80 kb)
SI 231 of 2007 Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) (Prescribed Forms) (Amendment No 3) Regulations (pdf, 41 kb)
Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 (pdf, 71 kb)
more legislation