A commission has been set up to advise on a referendum on extending voting rights to Irish citizens living abroad and in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
T\u00e1naiste Simon Coveney made an order establishing an independent statutory referendum commission to explain the referendum and encourage people to vote in it.<\/p>\n
The principal function of the commission \u2013 which has been established under the Referendum Act 1998 \u2013 is to prepare, publish and distribute statements containing a general explanation of the referendum proposal.<\/p>\n
It will also promote awareness of the referendum and encourage the electorate to vote.<\/p>\n
Irish citizens living abroad and in Northern Ireland would be able to vote in presidential elections from 2025 onward if it passes.<\/p>\n
Mr Justice David Barniville has been nominated to act as chairman to the commission.<\/p>\n
The other members are the Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy, the Ombudsman Peter Tyndall, the clerk of the D\u00e1il Peter Finnegan and clerk of the Seanad Martin Groves.<\/p>\n
The Government approved a bill to hold the referendum back in June.<\/p>\n