At stake in this Referendum:

• Ireland will vote in two referendums to enact two amendments to the Constitution of Ireland.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Michael D. HIGGINS *
• Head of Government: Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda KENNY
• Assembly: Ireland has a bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consisting of the Senate (Seanad Éireann) with 60 seats* and the House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann) with 166 seats**.

* The presidential term is renewable once. The electoral system is alternative vote. The President is a member of Parliament ex officio.

* 43 members are elected by five panels representing vocational interests. 6 are elected by graduates of two colleges.

** One seat is reserved for the Speaker of the House. There are 43 multi-member districts with magnitudes from 3 to 5.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) The endorsement by popular majority of a constitutional amendment to abolish the Senate of Ireland and move to a unicameral parliamentary structure. The change would take place after the next general election.
• Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal)** Endorsement by popular majority of a constitutional amendment to establish a Court of Appeal.

** The Court of Appeal would replace the Supreme Court as the final appellate court in most cases. The Supreme Court would only hear cases that have already been through the Court of Appeal but involve matters of 'general public importance' or when it is in 'the interests of justice' that the Supreme Court hear the case. The Supreme Court could also hear appeals directly from the High Court if it considers that there are exceptional circumstances which warrant a direct appeal to it.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 4,598,294 (2013)
• Registered Voters: 3,183,686 (November 2012 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,305,115 (2011)

·         Is Ireland a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Ireland ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (23 December 1985)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 25 (House of Representatives); 18 (Senate) (following the 2011 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 6 

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,300,416 (2012)

·         Is Ireland a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Ireland ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (23 December 1985)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 25 (House of Representatives); 18 (Senate) (following the 2011 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 6 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Ireland a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Ireland ratified CRPD: No

·         Population with a disability: 688,034 (est.)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Ireland a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Ireland ratified CRPD: No

·         Population with a disability: 689,744 (est.)