Referendum Act, 1994

Constituencies.

18.—(1) For the purpose of taking the poll at a referendum, the State shall be deemed to be divided into the same constituencies as those into which it is for the time being divided for the purpose of Dáil elections and the poll shall be taken separately in each such constituency.

(2) The Minister may, if satisfied that it is appropriate so to do, by order, made not later than the date on which the order appointing the polling day at a referendum is made, provide that for the purpose of the referendum concerned each county and each county borough shall be deemed to be a constituency for the purpose of Dáil elections and, as respects a referendum for the purpose of which the order is in force—

(a) the poll shall be taken separately in each county and each county borough;

(b) each voter at the poll shall vote in the constituency in which the voter would be entitled to vote at a Dáil election if each county and each county borough in the State were a constituency for such election;

(c) the local returning officer shall be—

(i) in the case of the county of Cork, the counties of South Dublin, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, the county borough of Cork and the county borough of Dublin, the appropriate sheriff, and

(ii) in any other case, the county registrar for the county or county borough concerned;

and

(d) in this Act (other than this subsection)—

(i) references to a constituency shall be construed in accordance with the order, and

(ii) references to a member of the Dáil for the constituency shall be construed as references to a member of the Dáil for any constituency situate wholly or partly within the county or county borough and references to a member of the Seanad resident in the constituency shall be construed as references to a member of the Seanad resident in the county or county borough.

(3) An order under this section shall be published in Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made.