merrion street

Environment Minister Phil Hogan today announced 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 Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012.

In accordance with the Referendum Act 1998, the Chief Justice has nominated the Hon. Mr. Justice Kevin Feeney to act as Chairperson of the Commission. The other members of the Commission are:

• the Ombudsman (Ms. Emily O’Reilly),

• the Clerk of the Dáil (Mr. Kieran Coughlan),

• the Clerk of the Seanad (Ms. Deirdre Lane).

• the Secretary and Director of Audit of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Mr. Gerry Smyth)

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 to 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.