<base href="http://t3urednik.sigov.si/varuh-rs/typo3/" />

Oifig an Ombudsman, Ireland

Referendum Commission in the Republic of Ireland

On Friday June 11th 1999 a referendum will take place in the Republic of Ireland on a proposal to amend the Constitution to provide recognition for Local Government. Under the Referendum Act, 1998, a Referendum Commission has been established to oversee the information campaign on the proposed amendment to the Constitution. The Commission is an independent body, has its own budget of IR750,000 and is supported by a secretariat from the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman, Mr Kevin Murphy, is an ex-officio member of the Commission and Mr Justice Tom Finlay, former Chief Justice of Ireland's Supreme Court is the Commission's Chairman . 

It is proposed to insert the following Article in the Constitution:

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Article 28A.

1. The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities.

2. There shall be such directly elected local authorities as may be determined by law and their powers and functions shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be so determined and shall be exercised and performed in accordance with law.

3. Elections for members of such local authorities shall be held in accordance with law not later than the end of the fifth year after the year in which they were last held.

4. Every citizen who has the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Eireann and such other persons as may be determined by law shall have the right to vote at an election for members of such of the local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article as shall be determined by law.

5. Casual vacancies in the membership of local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article shall be filled in accordance with law.

The Commission has requested individuals and organisations, who wish to express their views on the proposed amendment, to make submissions to the Commission. The Commission has also produced publicity material on the referendum proposals which has been made available at a range of public outlets and in a series of newspaper advertisements for the information of the electorate. In addition a number of radio and TV notices highlighting the referendum and alerting the electorate to the information available have been broadcast.

Oifig an Ombudsman, Ireland

Referendum Commission in the Republic of Ireland

On Friday June 11th 1999 a referendum will take place in the Republic of Ireland on a proposal to amend the Constitution to provide recognition for Local Government. Under the Referendum Act, 1998, a Referendum Commission has been established to oversee the information campaign on the proposed amendment to the Constitution. The Commission is an independent body, has its own budget of IR750,000 and is supported by a secretariat from the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman, Mr Kevin Murphy, is an ex-officio member of the Commission and Mr Justice Tom Finlay, former Chief Justice of Ireland's Supreme Court is the Commission's Chairman . 

It is proposed to insert the following Article in the Constitution:

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Article 28A.

1. The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities.

2. There shall be such directly elected local authorities as may be determined by law and their powers and functions shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be so determined and shall be exercised and performed in accordance with law.

3. Elections for members of such local authorities shall be held in accordance with law not later than the end of the fifth year after the year in which they were last held.

4. Every citizen who has the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Eireann and such other persons as may be determined by law shall have the right to vote at an election for members of such of the local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article as shall be determined by law.

5. Casual vacancies in the membership of local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article shall be filled in accordance with law.

The Commission has requested individuals and organisations, who wish to express their views on the proposed amendment, to make submissions to the Commission. The Commission has also produced publicity material on the referendum proposals which has been made available at a range of public outlets and in a series of newspaper advertisements for the information of the electorate. In addition a number of radio and TV notices highlighting the referendum and alerting the electorate to the information available have been broadcast.