Referendum Act, 1994

Trial of referendum petition.

46.—(1) A referendum petition shall be tried by the High Court and references in this Part to the court shall be construed as references to the High Court.

(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the trial of a referendum petition:

(a) in fixing the date for and conducting the trial, the court shall give the matter such priority as is reasonably possible;

(b) the trial shall be continued until its result is determined notwithstanding the death of any petitioner;

(c) the Director of Public Prosecutions may at any stage be represented at and take part in the trial as a party, whether of his own motion or at the request of the court;

(d) the referendum returning officer shall attend the trial and produce and deliver to the court the provisional referendum certificate and give such assistance as may be required of him by the court, but without prejudice to being called as a witness by any party;

(e) the local returning officer for a constituency to which the petition relates shall, at the request of the court, attend the trial and give such assistance as is requested by the court, but without prejudice to his being called as a witness by any party.