The Order allowing a referendum on Cabinet confidentiality to be held on the same day as the presidential election, October 30th, has been signed by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Dempsey, writes Maol Muire Tynan, Political Reporter.
The referendum is designed to enable tribunals to investigate discussions at the Cabinet table. If passed, it will facilitate the questioning of Ministers about discussions they conducted in Cabinet.
Voting in both the referendum and the presidential election will take place in the 41 constituencies between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and the Minister has appointed Mr Peter Greene, a principal officer in his Department, to be the referendum returning officer.
Every Irish citizen included in the Register of Electors for a constituency is entitled to vote in the referendum. Those not included in the 1997-98 register who believe they qualify for registration have been advised by the Department to apply for entry in the "supplement" to the register.
Applications for entry in the supplement must be received by the county council or city corporation for the area by October 11th.
The total electorate currently stands at 2,688,316.