The

government of Ireland The Government of Ireland () is the executive (government), executive authority of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, headed by the , the head of government. The government – also known as the cabinet (government), cabinet – is composed of Mini ...

held

referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...

s on 22 May 2015 on two proposed

amendments to the Constitution of Ireland Amendments to the Constitution of Ireland are only possible by way of referendum. A proposal to amend the Constitution of Ireland must be initiated as a bill in Dáil Éireann, be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas (parliament), then submit ...

which had been recommended by the Constitutional Convention. The amendment to permit

same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since 16 November 2015. A referendum on 22 May 2015 amended the Constitution of Ireland to provide that marriage is recognised irrespective of the sex of the partners. The measure was signed into l ...

was approved by 62–38% of the voters. The other amendment would have reduced the

age of candidacy Age of candidacy is the minimum age at which a person can legally hold certain elected government offices. In many cases, it also determines the age at which a person may be eligible to stand for an election or be granted ballot access. Inter ...

for the

President of Ireland The president of Ireland () is the head of state of Republic of Ireland, Ireland and the supreme commander of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces. The presidency is a predominantly figurehead, ceremonial institution, serving as ...

from 35 to 21, but voters rejected it by 73–27%. A Dáil by-election in Carlow–Kilkenny was held on the same day. Other amendments were considered but not proceeded with, including reducing the

voting age A legal voting age is the minimum age that a person is allowed to Voting, vote in a democracy, democratic process. For General election, general elections around the world, the right to vote is restricted to adults, and most nations use 18 year ...

from 18 to 16, and sanctioning the establishment of a

Unified Patent Court The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is a common Supranational law, supranational patent court of 18 member states of the European Union, which opened on 1 June 2023. It hears cases regarding patent infringement, infringement and revocation proceeding ...

Same-sex marriage

Voters were asked whether to add to the Constitution that "marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex". The proposal was supported by the Government as well as all major political parties, and was approved by 62.07% of voters.

Presidential candidacy age

Voters rejected a proposal to reduce the age of eligibility to run for

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

from 35 to 21 by a 73% to 27% margin.url=

References

{{Irish elections

Constitutional referendums A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of Legal entity, entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. Wh ...

Irish constitutional referendums Irish constitutional referendums

Ireland 2015 Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland

Constitutional 2015 Same-sex marriage referendums