On October 27th, the day of the Presidential election, you will be asked to vote in two referendums on proposals to change the Constitution. One is about whether the pay of judges can be reduced in certain circumstances; the other is about the powers of the Houses of the Oireachtas to conduct inquiries into matters of general public importance.The Constitution is important. It defines the characteristics of the State, gives validity to our government and legal system and sets out the standards which all State activity must meet. It belongs to the Irish people, not to the political or legal system. It was enacted by a referendum of the Irish people and can only be changed through a referendum of the Irish people.
This website is published by the Referendum Commission. Its job is to explain as factually and clearly as possible what you are voting on. Further information on both referendum proposals will be added to this site in the near future.The Commission strongly encourages you to vote. It does not argue for a yes or a no vote.
Bryan M. E. McMahon
Chairperson
Referendum Commission
Chairperson
Referendum Commission
Referendum on the pay of judges
This referendum is about whether the pay of judges can be reduced in certain circumstances. At present the Constitution does not allow for the reduction of the remuneration of sitting judges.
Click here to read more about the
Referendum on the pay of judges
Referendum on inquiries by the Oireachtas
This referendum proposes to give the Houses of the Oireachtas (the Dáil and Seanad) express power to conduct inquiries into matters of general public importance and, in doing so, to make findings of fact about any person’s conduct.
Click here to read more about the Referendum on inquiries by the Oireachtas