Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
There now follows some independent information on the forth coming referendums
prepared by the Referendum Commission.
On Friday October the 4th you will be asked to vote in two referendums
one is about whether or not we should abolish Seanad Eireann.
The other is about whether or not we should set up a new Court of Appeal
and make some other changes to the Courts system.
Here is some more information
about the proposal to abolish Seanad Eireann:
At the moment, for a law to be made in Ireland
a Bill must be passed by the two Houses of the Oireachtas: the Dáil and the Seanad.
Once that happens it is sent to the president to be signed into law.
Currently, members of the Seanad have the power to propose changes to Bills
and delay Bills by up to 90 days.
Ultimately, it cannot change a Bill or prevent it becoming an Act
unless the Dáil agrees.
If this referendum is passed,
the Seanad be abolished after the next General Election.
So in future, laws would have to be passed only by the Dáil
before being sent to the president to be signed.
There will be some other changes to the constitution
to remove references to the Seanad, and to make new arrangements to deal
with certain functions in which the Seanad currently has a role.
The referendum takes place on October 4th.
More information on both referendum proposals is available on referendum2013.ie
or in the independent guide which is being delivered to all homes in the country.
Make sure you use your vote on October 4th.
If we as a country vote yes
then the Seanad will be abolished.
If we vote no then the Seanad will remain
and there will be no constitutional change.
Visit referendum2013.ie and make sure you vote on Friday 4th of October.