Posted online: Oct 27th, 2011

THE REFERENDUM COMMISSION has urged the electorate in Co Kildare to vote in the referendums on judges pay and Oireachtas inquiries which take place today, Thursday, October 27th, the same day as the Presidential election.

The Commission, the independent body set up to explain the referendum proposals, said voters should take a few minutes to read its Guide to the referendums which has been distributed to the two million voting households in the State. Alternatively they can read an explanation of the proposals at www.referendum2011.ie.

Dr Bryan McMahon, Chairperson of the Referendum Commission said, “The referendum proposals are straightforward and easy to understand. One is about whether the pay of judges can be reduced in certain circumstances and the other is about the powers of the Houses of the Oireachtas (the Dáil and Seanad) to conduct inquires into matters of general public importance.

“The Constitution is important. It belongs to the Irish people, not to the political or legal system. It’s up to the people to decide whether or not they would like to change it. Voters can easily inform themselves by reading the Guide, or logging onto www.referendum2011.ie.

“This is a national issue and voters in every county in Ireland should exercise their right to vote. I would like to call on the voters in Co Kildare to do their part to ensure a high turnout on the day.”

On polling day people will be handed three ballot papers, one for the Presidential election, one for the Constitutional amendment relating to judges’ remuneration and one for the constitutional amendment relating to Oireachtas inquiries. People voting in the Dublin West constituency will be given a fourth ballot paper so that they can vote in the by-election.

Judges’ pay ballot paper

The ballot paper on Judge’s pay will ask you if you approve the proposal to amend the Constitution contained in the Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judge’s Remuneration) Bill 2011. The ballot paper will be green in colour.

If people approve they can mark an ‘X’ in the Tá/Yes square and if they do not approve they can mark ‘X’ in the Níl/No square.

Oireachtas inquiries ballot paper
The ballot paper on Oireachtas inquiries will ask if you approve the proposal to amend the Constitution contained in the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011. This ballot paper will be blue.

If people approve they can mark an ‘X’ in the Tá/Yes square and if they do not approve they can mark ‘X’ in the Níl/No square.