The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, has announced members of the independent statutory Referendum Commission for the upcoming Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013.
The Hon. Ms. Justice Elizabeth Dunne is to act as Chairperson of the Commission. 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 Commission will be required 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 also 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.