Referendums

When the government wishes to change something in the Irish Constitution it must hold a constitutional referendum. Read the Irish Constitution.

38 constitutional referendums have been held in the State.

When the government wishes to introduce a law of national importance, the Seanad and the Dáil can petition the president to hold a referendum. No ordinary referendum has been held.

Every person who is an Irish citizen, aged 18 and over on polling day, and who is included in the Register of Dáil Electors on polling day, is entitled to vote in referendums.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for overseeing the running of referendums in Ireland, an important part of its democratic process. This video shows how and why referendums happen and the State bodies that work to ensure citizens can have their say on referendum day. (See below for both short and extended version.)

Short version

Extended version

Legislation for referendums in Ireland is set out in the Referendum Act, 1994 and the Referendum Act, 1998.

There are two types of referendum in Ireland: a constitutional referendum and an ordinary referendum.

Read further information on referendum results from 1937 – 2024.

It is the duty of the Referendum Returning Officer to conduct referendums, and to establish and declare the result of referendums.

Read further on referendums on the website of the Referendum Returning Officer.

Read further information on ‘The Referendum in Ireland’.