Referendum Act 1998
Encyclopedia
The Referendum Act 1998 is an act of the Oireachtas
which modified how referendums are carried out in Ireland
. The act was necessary following the McKenna case
where the Supreme Court of Ireland held that the spending of public money on constitutional referendums to support the government-approved side was unconstitutional. To rectify the imbalance, this act was introduced. The main provision of which was to allow for the establishment of a Referendum Commission
prior to polls.
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
which modified how referendums are carried out in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The act was necessary following the McKenna case
Patricia McKenna
Patricia McKenna is an Irish independent politician. She served as a Green Party Member of the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency from 1994 to 2004.-Background:...
where the Supreme Court of Ireland held that the spending of public money on constitutional referendums to support the government-approved side was unconstitutional. To rectify the imbalance, this act was introduced. The main provision of which was to allow for the establishment of a Referendum Commission
Referendum Commission
The Referendum Commission is an independent statutory body in Ireland which is set up in advance of any referendum. The Referendum Act 1998 as amended by the Referendum Act 2001 provides for the establishment of the body.-Background:...
prior to polls.