Minister Hogan Establishes Referendum Commission on the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013
Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced today (7th June 2013) that he has made an order under the Referendum Act 1998 establishing an independent statutory Referendum Commission for the purposes of the forthcoming referendum on the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013.
In accordance with the 1998 Act, the Chief Justice has nominated the Hon. Ms. Justice Elizabeth Dunne to act as Chairperson of the Commission. The Act provides that the other members of the Commission are:
• the Comptroller and Auditor General (Mr. Seamus McCarthy),
• the Ombudsman (Ms. Emily O’Reilly),
• the Clerk of the Dáil (Mr. Kieran Coughlan), and
• the Clerk of the Seanad (Ms. Deirdre Lane).
The principal functions of the Commission are to prepare a statement containing a general explanation of the subject matter of the referendum proposal, to publish this statement and distribute it to the electorate; to promote awareness of the referendum; and encourage the electorate to vote.
The Commission will, in addition, consider and rule on applications from bodies or groups for declaration as approved bodies who may appoint agents at the referendum to be present at polling stations and at the counting of votes.
Coimisiún Reifrinn ar an mBille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann 2013) Bunaithe ag an Aire Hogan
Tá sé fógartha ag an Uasal Phil Hogan, T.D., an tAire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil, inniu (6 Mí Meitheamh 2013) go bhfuil ordú déanta aige faoi Acht an Reifrinn 1998 ag bunú Coimisiún Reifrinn reachtúil neamhspleách chun críocha an reifrinn ar an mBille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann 2013).
De réir Acht 1998, tá an Breitheamh Elizabeth Dunne Oinigh ainmnithe ag an bPríomh-Bhreitheamh ina Cathaoirleach ar an gCoimisiún. Déanann an tAcht foráil gurb iad na daoine seo a leanas a bheidh ina gcomhaltaí eile den Choimisiúin:
• An tArd-Reachtaire Cuntas & Ciste (an tUasal Seamus McCarthy),
• An tOmbudsman (Emily O’Reilly Uasal),
• Cléireach Dháil Éireann (an tUasal Kieran Coughlan), agus
• Cléireach an tSeanaid (Deirdre Lane, Uasal).
Is iad príomh-fheidhmeanna an Choimisiúin ráiteas a ullmhú ina mbeidh míniú ginearálta ar ábhar an reifrinn, an ráiteas sin a fhoilsiú agus a scaipeadh ar na toghthóirí; feasacht ar an reifreann a ardú; agus na toghthóirí a spreagadh le vóta a chaitheamh.
Chomh maith leis sin, breithneoidh agus rialóidh an Coimisiún iarratais ó chomhlachtaí nó ó ghrúpaí lena ndearbhú ina gcomhlachtaí ceadaithe le gníomhairí a cheapadh ag an reifreann le bheith i láthair ag stáisiúin vótaíochta agus ag comhaireamh na vótaí.