1. Home
  2. Acts
  3. 1998
  4. Click on title below to return to Act

Updated to 23 October 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 506 of 2025)

Referendum Act 1998
No. 1 of 1998

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Whole Act 26 February 1998 Commenced on enactment

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Source
Repealed Electoral Reform Act 2022 (30/2022), ss. 1(5), 4(4) 9 February 2023 Electoral Reform Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 32 of 2023), art. 2(b)
Transfer of certain functions under Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 480 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3(a), schedule 20 September 2011 Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 480 of 2011), art. 1(2).
S. 2(5) day appointed Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 484 of 2019), art. 3 26 September 2019 Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 484 of 2019), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 68 of 2019), art. 3 26 February 2019 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 68 of 2019), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 255 of 2018), art. 3 18 July 2018 Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 255 of 2018), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 66 of 2018), art. 3 9 March 2018 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 66 of 2018), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 27 of 2015), art. 3 27 March 2015 Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 27 of 2015), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 26 of 2015), art. 3 27 January 2015 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 26 of 2015), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 250 of 2013), art. 3 10 July 2013 Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 250 of 2013), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 185 of 2013), art.. 3 6 June 2013 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 185 of 2013), art.. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 352 of 2012), art. 3 19 September 2012 Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 352 of 2012), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 100 of 2012), art. 3 30 March 2012 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 100 of 2012), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 466 of 2011), art. 3 13 September 2011 Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 466 of 2011), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 445 of 2011), art. 3 5 September 2011 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 445 of 2011), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 257 of 2009), art. 3 7 July 2009 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 257 of 2009), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 58 of 2008), art. 3 6 March 2008 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 58 of 2008), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 113 of 1998), art. 3 22 April 1998 Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 113 of 1998), art. 3
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 53 of 1998), art. 3 2 March 1998 Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 53 of 1998), art. 3
S. 2(5)(a) amended Court of Appeal Act (18/2014), ss. 1(2), 58(a) 28 October 2014 Court of Appeal Act 2014 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 479 of 2014), art. 2(b), (c)
S. 2(7)(a)(i) amended Court of Appeal Act (18/2014), ss. 1(2), 58(b) 28 October 2014 Court of Appeal Act 2014 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 479 of 2014), art. 2(b), (c)
S. 3 right of reply restriction Broadcasting Act 2009 (18/2009), s. 49(21)(q) 12 July 2009 Commenced on enactment
S. 3(1) substituted Referendum Act 2001 (53/2001), s.1 (a) 22 December 2001 Commenced on enactment
S. 5 substituted Broadcasting Act 2009 (18/2009), s. 185 12 July 2009 Commenced on enactment
S. 5(1) amended Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (41/2022), ss. 1(3), 74 Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3)
S. 6 repealed Referendum Act, 2001 (53/2001), s. 1(b) 22 December 2001 Commenced on enactment
S. 8(a) deleted Referendum Act, 2001 (53/2001), s. 1(c)(i) 22 December 2001 Commenced on enactment
S. 8(c) amended Referendum Act, 2001 (53/2001), s. 1(c)(ii) 22 December 2001 Commenced on enactment
S. 8(d) amended Referendum Act, 2001 (53/2001), s. 1(c)(ii) 22 December 2001 Commenced on enactment
S. 11 applied Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 2019 (S.I. No. 214 of 2019), regs. 3(1), 7(1) 24 May 2019 Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 2019 (S.I. No. 214 of 2019), reg. 3(1)
  Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 2004 (S.I. No. 237 of 2004), regs. 3(1), 7(3) 11 June 2004 Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 2004 (S.I. No. 237 of 2004), reg. 3(1)
  Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 153 of 1999), regs. 3(1), 8(3) 11 June 1999 Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 153 of 1999), reg. 3(1)
S. 15 applied Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 2019 (S.I. No. 214 of 2019), regs. 3(1) 7(1) 24 May 2019 Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 2019 (S.I. No. 214 of 2019), reg. 3(1)
  Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 2004 (S.I. No. 237 of 2004), regs. 3(1), 7(3) 11 June 2004 Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 2004 (S.I. No. 237 of 2004), reg. 3(1)
  Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 153 of 1999), regs. 3(1), 8(3) 11 June 1999 Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 153 of 1999), reg. 3(1)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 2 Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 27 of 2015)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 26 of 2015)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 250 of 2013)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 185 of 2013)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 352 of 2012)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 100 of 2012)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 466 of 2011)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 445 of 2011)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 257 of 2009)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 58 of 2008)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 170 of 2004)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 346 of 2002)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 33 of 2002)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 4) Order 2001 (S.I. No. 158 of 2001)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 3) Order 2001 (S.I. No. 157 of 2001)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2001 (S.I. No. 156 of 2001)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2001 (S.I. No. 155 of 2001)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 1999 (S.I. No. 114 of 1999)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 113 of 1998)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 53 of 1998)
S. 2(1) Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 484 of 2019)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 68 of 2019)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 255 of 2018)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 66 of 2018)
S. 2(8) Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 484 of 2019)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 68 of 2019)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) (No. 2) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 255 of 2018)
  Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 66 of 2018)