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Uimhir 16 de 1937.
ACHT POBAL-BHREITHE (DRÉACHT-BHUNREACHT), 1937.
Mínithe.
1.—San Acht so—
cialluíonn an abairt “an tAire” an tAire Rialtais Áitiúla agus Sláinte Puiblí;
cialluíonn an abairt “an toghachán generálta” an toghachán generálta do bhaill do Dháil Éireann a bheidh ann de dhruim an Oireachtais do scur den chéad uair tar éis an Achta so do rith;
cialluíonn an abairt “an Dréacht-Bhunreacht” Dréacht-Bhunreacht do cheaduigh no cheadóidh Dáil Éireann (roimh an Acht so do rith no dá éis sin) roimh an toghachán generálta;
cialluíonn an abairt “an phobal-bhreith” an phobal-bhreith a ceangailtear leis an Acht so do chomóradh maidir leis an Dréacht-Bhunreacht.
E bheith d'oblagáid an Dréacht-Bhunreacht do chur fé phobal-bhreith
2.—(1) Cuirfear an Dréacht-Bhunreacht fé phobal-bhreith do réir an Achta so.
(2) Tógfar an phobal-bhreith ar fuaid Shaorstáit Éireann an lá is lá vótaíochta sa toghachán ghenerálta.
(3) Is tré bhallóid sheicréidigh a bhéarfar na vótanna sa phobal-bhreith.
Ceann coimhrimh na pobalbhreithe.
3.—(1) Chun críche na pobal-bhreithe beidh ceann coimhrimh pobal-bhreithe ann a cheapfaidh an tAire lá nach déanaí ná an lá deiridh chun ainmniúcháin sa toghachán ghenerálta do ghlacadh.
(2) Cólíonfaidh ceann coimhrimh na pobal-bhreithe na dualgaisí sin a forchuirtear air leis an Acht so no fé.
Daoine bheidh i dteideal vótála sa phobalbhreith.
4.—(1) Chun na pobal-bhreithe do thógaint tuigfear Saorstát Éireann do bheith roinnte sna dáilcheanntair chéanna ina bhfuil sí roinnte chun críche an toghacháin ghenerálta.
(2) Beidh gach duine bheidh i dteideal vótála sa toghachán ghenerálta (agus ní bheidh éinne eile) i dteideal vótála sa phobalbhreith.
(3) Gach duine vótálfaidh sa phobal-bhreith is sa dáilcheanntar ina mbeidh teideal aige vótáil sa toghachán ghenerálta a vótálfa sé.
(4) Más rud é, toisc gan an méid iarrthóirí bheidh ainmnithe i ndáilcheanntar do bheith níos mó ná an méid folúntas a bheidh le líonadh, ná tógfar aon vótaíocht sa dáilcheanntar san sa toghachán ghenerálta beidh gach duine do bheadh i dteideal vótála sa dáilcheanntar san sa toghachán ghenerálta, dá dtógtaí vótaíocht ann, i dteideal vótála sa dáilcheanntar san le linn na pobal-bhreithe bheith á tógaint.
(5) Ní bheidh duine ar bith i dteideal vótála níos mó ná uair amháin sa phobal-bhreith.
An tslí ina dtógfar an phobal-bhreith
5.—(1) Déanfar, i ngach dáilcheanntar ina dtógfar vótaíocht sa toghachán ghenerálta, an phobal-bhreith do thógaint an t-am céanna, sna háiteanna céanna, sa tslí chéanna, agus ag na daoine céanna gur ionta agus acu tógfar an vótaíocht san.
(2) I ngach dáilcheanntar ná tógfar aon vótaíocht ann sa toghachán ghenerálta toisc gan an méid iarrthóirí bheidh ainmnithe do bheith níos mó ná an méid folúntas a bheidh le líonadh, tógfar an phobal-bhreith an t-am, sna háiteanna, sa tslí, agus ag na daoine gur ionta agus acu ba ghá do réir dlí an vótaíocht san do thógaint (dá dtógtaí vótaíocht).
(3) Fé réir forálacha an Achta so bainfidh an dlí i dtaobh vótaíocht do thógaint i dtoghachán ghenerálta do bhaill de Dháil Éireann, bainfidh, gus na hatharuithe is gá, leis an bpobal-bhreith do thógaint fé is dá mba vótaíocht sa toghachán ghenerálta san an phobal-bhreith.
(4) Má ciríonn, no má mheasann an tAire gur deallrathach go n-eireoidh, aon amhrus, ceist, no aighneas maidir leis na hatharuithe, ar an dlí bhaineann leis an vótaíocht do thógaint i dtoghachán ghenerálta do bhaill do Dháil Éireann, is gá chun baint do bheith ag an dlí sin, do réir an fho-ailt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so, leis an bpobal-bhreith do thógaint, bhéarfaidh an tAire breith ar an amhrus, ar an gceist, no ar an aighneas san no féadfaidh an tAire, más ceart san dar leis, aon atharú do dhéanamh le hordú ar an dlí sin a chífear dó is gá chun baint do bheith ag an dlí sin mar adubhradh.
Páipéirí ballóide sa phobalbhreith.
6.—(1) Is sa bhfuirm atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht so bheidh na páipéirí ballóide sa phobal-bhreith.
(2) Úsáidfear an marc oifigiúil céanna i gcóir na bpáipéirí ballóide sa phobal-bhreith a húsáidfear i gcóir na bpáipéirí ballóide sa toghachán ghenerálta.
(3) Beidh feidhm agus éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas i ngach dáilcheanntar ina dtógfar vótaíocht sa toghachán ghenerálta, sé sin le rá:—
(a) sínfear an páipéar ballóide i gcóir na pobal-bhreithe chun gach vótálaí no, i gcás vótálaithe atá ar liost na bpostvótálaithe, cuirfear chun gach vótálaí é an tráth céanna a déanfar an páipéar ballóide i gcóir an toghacháin ghenerálta do shíneadh no do chur chuige;
(b) féadfaidh gach ceann coimhrimh, más ceart san dar leis, boscaí ballóide ar leithligh do sholáthar le haghaidh na bpáipéirí ballóide i gcóir na pobal-bhreithe agus le haghaidh na bpáipéirí ballóide i gcóir an toghacháin ghenerálta;
(c) mara soláthruítear boscaí ballóide ar leithligh fén mír dheiridh sin roimhe seo den fho-alt so, cuirfear na páipéirí ballóide i gcóir na pobal-bhreithe agus na páipéirí ballóide i gcóir an toghacháin ghenerálta isteach sna boscaí ballóide céanna.
Vótáil sa phobal-bhreith.
7.—(1) Déanfaidh gach vótálaí sa phobal-bhreith a vóta do thabhairt tré n-a pháipéar bhallóide do mharcáil do réir na dtreoracha i dtaobh marcála bheidh clóbhuailte ar an bpáipéar ballóide.
(2) Páipéar ballóide ar bith sa phobal-bhreith ná beidh an marc oifigiúil air, no ná cuirfear an marc “X” air in aon chor no ná cuirfear air é i slí a thaisbeánfaidh go n-aontuíonn no ná haontuíonn an vótálaí leis an Dréacht-Bhunreacht, no ar a gcuirfear an marc “X” so chearnóig os coinne an fhocail “Aontuím” agus ar a gcuirfear freisin é sa chearnóig os coinne na bhfocal “Ní aontuím”, no ar a mbeidh éinní tré n-a bhféadfar a aithint cé hé an vótálaí (ach amháin an uimhir is gá do réir dlí do bheith clóbhuailte ar chúl an pháipéir bhallóide) scríobhtha no marcálta, beidh sé gan bhrí agus ní coimhreofar é.
Droch-bhearta toghacháin do chosc sa phobal-bhreith.
8.—(1) Beidh an phobal-bhreith ina thoghachán do réir bhrí agus chun crícheanna an Achta chun Droch-Bhearta Toghacháin do Chosc, 1923 (Uimh. 38 de 1923), agus déanfar an focal “toghachán”, i ngach áit ina n-úsáidtear é gan coinníoll san Acht san, do léiriú mar fhocal fholuíonn an phobal-bhreith agus beidh feidhm agus éifeacht dá réir sin ag an Acht san maidir leis an bpobal-bhreith.
(2) I dteanta forálacha an fho-ailt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so agus gan dochar dóibh, beidh feidhm agus éifeacht, maidir leis an bpobal-bhreith, ag gach foráil reachtúil a bhaineann le breabaireacht no le pearsanáil no le cleachtanna cuirpthe i dtoghacháin do bhaill do Dháil Éireann, no le hachuingeacha toghacháin alos na dtoghachán san, agus atá i bhfeidhm le linn an Achta so do rith agus, chun na críche sin, déanfar gach tagairt atá in aon fhoráil reachtúil den tsórt san do thoghachán do bhaill do Dháil Éireann do léiriú mar thagairt don phobal-bhreith.
(3) Chun an ama d'áireamh gur laistigh de is gá do réir dlí éinní do dhéanamh maidir le hachuinge ag cur toradh na pobalbhreithe fé cheist déanfar an dáta ar a bhfoillseoidh ceann coimhrimh na pobal-bhreithe an toradh san san Iris Oifigiúil do réir an Achta so do chur in ionad an dáta ar a ndéanfaidh ceann coimhrimh an freagra ar an rit chun baill do Dháil Éireann do thoghadh do chur chun Cléireach Dháil Éireann.
(4) Ní bheidh sé d'oblagáid ar Chúirt éistfidh achuinge ag cur toradh na pobal-bhreithe fé cheist a chur fé ndeár ath-choimhreamh do dhéanamh ar na vótanna do tugadh, ná fiosrú do dhéanamh ar shlí eile i dtaobh na vótála ná i dtaobh coimhreamh na vótanna, sa phobal-bhreith in aon dáilcheanntar gur deimhin leis an gCúirt ina thaobh ná fuil an vótáil do rinneadh sa dáilcheanntar san i gceist san achuinge sin.
(5) Beidh ag gníomhaire iarrthóra sa toghachán ghenerálta, sa mhéid ná beidh san buiniscionn leis an Acht so, na príbhléidí céanna maidir leis an bpobal-bhreith bheidh aige maidir leis an toghachán generálta.
(6) Gach gníomhaire pearsanála ceapfar, fé alt 22 den Acht chun Droch-Bhearta Toghacháin do Chosc, 1923 (Uimh. 38 de 1923), chun crícheanna an toghacháin ghenerálta tuigfear é do cheapadh freisin mar ghníomhaire phearsanála den tsórt san chun crícheanna na pobal-bhreithe agus, dá réir sin, beidh aige, maidir leis an bpobal-bhreith, na comhachta agus na dualgaisí céanna bheidh aige maidir leis an toghachán generálta.
Na vótanna do bhéarfar sa phobal-bhreith do choimreamh.
9.—(1) Déanfar na vótanna do bhéarfar sa phobal-bhreith in aon dáilcheanntar ina dtógfar vótaíocht sa toghachán ghenerálta do choimhreamh san áit chéanna agus, chó fada agus is féidir é, an tráth agus sa tslí chéanna ina ndéanfar na vótanna do bhéarfar sa dáilcheanntar san sa toghachán ghenerálta do choimreamh, agus gach duine bheidh i dteideal bheith i láthair ag coimhreamh na vótanna san do bhéarfar sa toghachán ghenerálta beidh sé i dteideal bheith i láthair ag coimhreamh na vótanna san do bhéarfar sa phobal-bhreith.
(2) I ngach dáilcheanntar ná tógfar aon vótaíocht ann sa toghachán ghenerálta toisc gan an méid iarrthóirí bheidh ainmnithe do bheith níos mó ná an méid folúntas a bheidh le líonadh, cuirfidh an ceann coimhrimh don dáilcheanntar san fé ndeár na vótanna do bhéarfar sa phobal-bhreith sa dáilcheanntar san do choimhreamh san áit, an tráth agus, chó fada agus is féidir é, sa tslí chéanna inar ghá do réir dlí na vótanna do bhéarfaí sa toghachán ghenerálta sa dáilcheanntar san (dá dtógtaí vótaíocht ann) do choimhreamh, ach amháin go gcinnfidh an ceann coimhrimh fé mar is rogha leis féin é (fé réir aon treoracha do bhéarfaidh an tAire amach fén Acht so) cé hiad na daoine bheidh i dteideal bheith i láthair ag coimhreamh san na vótanna san.
(3) Ar choimhreamh na vótanna do bhéarfar sa phobal-bhreith i ndáilcheanntar ar bith do bheith críochnuithe ag an gceann coimhrimh don dáilcheanntar san glacfa sé na slite céanna agus déanfaidh na nithe céanna, maidir leis an bpobal-bhreith do thógaint sa dáilcheanntar san, is gá dhó do réir dlí a dhéanamh maidir le vótaíocht do thógaint, ach amháin go ndéanfaidh, díreach ar choimhreamh na vótanna san do bheith críochnuithe, tuairisceán do chur tríd an bpost go dtí ceann coimhrimh na pobal-bhreithe, fé chlúdach ar a mbeidh marcálta “Tuairisceán Áitiúil ar an bPobal-Bhreith”, á rá cadé an méid vótanna do tugadh sa phobal-bhreith ina dháilcheanntar ag aontú leis an Dréacht-Bhunreacht agus cadé an méid vótanna do tugadh amhlaidh ag eas-aontú leis an Dréacht-Bhunreacht agus foillseoidh cóip den tuairisceán san sa tslí is gá dhó do réir dlí toradh vótaíochta do tógfaí d'fhoillsiú.
(4) Gach clúdach ar a mbeidh “Tuairisceán Áitiúil ar an bPobal-Bhreith” marcálta agus a chuirfidh ceann coimhrimh tríd an bpost chun ceann coimhrimh na pobal-bhreithe do réir an fho-ailt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so déanfaidh an tAire Puist agus Telegrafa é do chur ar aghaidh agus do sheachadadh in aisce.
(5) Ar thuairisceáin ar an vótáil sa phobal-bhreith sna dáilcheanntair go léir do bheith faighte ag ceann coimhrimh na pobalbhreithe o sna cinn choimhrimh uile agus fé seach cuirfe sé na tortha san le chéile i bhfuirm táible agus gheobhaidh amach uatha toradh na vótála sa phobal-bhreith, agus foillseoidh san Iris Oifigiúil tuairisceán á dhearbhú cad is toradh don vótáil sin agus a rá cadé an méid iomlán de vótanna do tugadh sa phobal-bhreith ag aontú leis an Dréacht-Bhunreacht agus cadé an méid iomlán de vótanna do tugadh amhlaidh ag eas-aontú leis an Dréacht-Bhunreacht agus á rá freisin, maidir le gach dáilcheanntar, cadé an méid vótanna do tugadh sa phobal-bhreith sa dáilcheanntar san ag aontú leis an Dréacht-Bhunreacht agus cadé an méid vótanna do tugadh amhlaidh ag eas-aontú leis an Dréacht-Bhunreacht.
(6) An foillsiú déanfar san Iris Oifigiúil do réir an fho-ailt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so ar an tuairisceán is gá do réir an fho-ailt sin d'fhoillsiú amhlaidh beidh sé ina fhianaise dhochlaoite ar na nithe uile agus fé seach a bheidh dearbhuithe no ráite sa tuairisceán san, ach amháin sa mhéid go n-atharófar na nithe sin no aon cheann acu ar achuinge toghacháin no dá dhruim.
An tAire do thabhairt treoracha amach.
10.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire treoracha do thabhairt amach do gach ceann coimhrimh no d'aon cheann coimhrimh, pé treoracha, maidir le stiúradh na pobal-bhreithe agus, go sonnrách, maidir le déanamh do réir na n-achtachán agus le húsáid fuirmeacha i dtaobh toghachán a cuirtear i mbaint leis an bpobal-bhreith tríd an Acht so, is dóich leis an Aire is gá no is oiriúnach chun a chur in áirithe go dtógfar an phobal-bhreith go héasca agus go héifeachtúil agus gurb é an nós imeachta céanna leanfar ina taobh i ngach dáilcheanntar.
(2) Beidh sé de dhualgas ar gach ceann coimhrimh na treoracha uile gheobhaidh ón Aire fén bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so d'fhorchoimeád agus do chólíonadh.
(3) Má ciríonn aon deacracht agus an phobal-bhreith á tógaint do réir an Achta so, féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, éinní no aon rud a dhéanamh a chífear dó is gá chun na pobal-bhreithe do thógaint i gceart.
(4) Ní ceanglófar ar aon cheann coimhrimh ná ní húdarófar dó, le treoir do bhéarfar dó ná le hordú dhéanfaidh an tAire fén alt so, éinní dhéanamh (tré ghníomh no tré fhaillí) a bheadh contrárdha don Acht so no dhéanfadh sárú go díreach no go neadhíreach ar sheicréideacht na ballóide sa phobal-bhreith.
Costaisi ceann coimhrimh.
11.—(1) Beidh ceann coimhrimh na pobal-bhreithe agus gach ceann coimhrimh do dháilcheanntar i dteideal a éilithe réasúnta, nach mó ná na suimeanna luadhfar sa scála oiriúnach d'éilithe maximum a leagfar amach fén alt so, alos seirbhísí agus costaisí de sna cineálacha uile agus fé seach a luadhfar sa scála san agus 'na mbeidh sé tar éis iad a thabhairt uaidh no dul fútha go ceart chun crícheanna na pobal-bhreithe no maidir léi.
(2) Déanfaidh an tAire Airgid méid aon éilimh den tsórt san a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so d'íoc amach as an bPrímh-Chiste no as a thoradh fáis ar chuntas a cuirfear chuige do réir rialachán a dhéanfa sé fén alt so, ach, más oiriúnach leis é, féadfaidh an tAire sin, sara n-íoca sé éilithe aon chinn choimhrimh do dháilcheanntar, a iarraidh ar an mBreitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda go ndlighinse sa dáilcheanntar san an cuntas san do mheas agus leis sin cuirfidh an Breitheamh san fé ndeár don chlárathóir chontae an cuntas san do mheas agus a chinneadh cadé an méid is iníoctha fé.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire Airgid, más oiriúnach leis é, ar n-a iarraidh sin air do cheann choimhrimh na pobal-bhreithe no d'aon cheann coimhrimh do dháilcheanntar, roimh-íoc do dhéanamh, ar pé téarmaí is dóich leis an Aire sin is ceart, leis an gceann coimhrimh sin alos éilithe an chinn choimhrimh sin fén alt so.
(4) An meas a déanfar fén alt so ar chuntas chinn choimhrimh do dháilcheanntar folóidh sé, má orduíonn an Breitheamh amhlaidh ar an gceann coimhrimh sin á iarraidh san air, meas agus cinneadh méide aon éilimh a dhéanfaidh duine ar bith i gcoinnibh an chinn choimhrimh sin alos éinní go mbeidh éileamh déanta ina thaobh sa chuntas san.
(5) Chun crícheanna an ailt seo ordóidh an tAire Airgid scálaí d'éilithe maximum cinn choimhrimh na pobal-bhreithe agus ceann coimhrimh do dháilcheanntair fé seach agus déanfaidh rialacháin freisin ag ordú an ama bhéarfar agus na slí agus na fuirme ina dtabharfar cuntaisí dhó chun éilithe fén alt so d'íoc.
Gearr-theideal.
12.—Féadfar an tAcht Pobal-Bhreithe (Dréacht-Bhunreacht), 1937, do ghairm den Acht so.
SCEIDEAL.
Number 16 of 1937.
PLEBISCITE (DRAFT CONSTITUTION) ACT, 1937.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Obligation to submit the Draft Constitution to a plebiscite. | |
Act Referred to | |
No. 38 of 1923 | |
Number 16 of 1937.
PLEBISCITE (DRAFT CONSTITUTION) ACT, 1937.
Definitions.
1.—In this Act—
the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government and Public Health;
the expression “the general election” means the general election of members of Dáil Eireann consequent on the dissolution of the Oireachtas which shall occur next after the passing of this Act; the expression “the Draft Constitution” means a Draft Constitution approved of by Dáil Eireann (whether before or after the passing of this Act) before the general election;
the expression “the plebiscite” means the plebiscite required by this Act to be held in relation to the Draft Constitution.
Obligation to submit the Draft Constitution to a plebiscite.
2.—(1) The Draft Constitution shall be submitted to a plebiscite of the people in accordance with this Act.
(2) The plebiscite shall be taken throughout Saorstát Eireann on the day which is the polling day at the general election.
(3) The votes at the plebiscite shall be given by secret ballot.
The plebiscite returning officer.
3.—(1) For the purpose of the plebiscite there shall be a plebiscite returning officer who shall be appointed by the Minister not later than the last day for receiving nominations at the general election.
(2) The plebiscite returning officer shall perform such duties as are imposed on him by or under this Act.
Persons entitled to vote at the plebiscite.
4.—(1) For the purpose of taking the plebiscite, Saorstát Eireann shall be deemed to be divided into the same constituencies as those into which it is divided for the purpose of the general election.
(2) Every person who is entitled to vote at the general election (and no other persons) shall be entitled to vote at the plebiscite.
(3) Every person voting at the plebiscite shall record his vote in the constituency in which he is entitled to vote at the general election.
(4) Where, by reason of the number of candidates nominated in a constituency not exceeding the number of vacancies to be filled, no poll is taken in such constituency at the general election, every person who would have been entitled to vote in such constituency at the general election if a poll had been taken therein shall be entitled to vote in such constituency at the taking of the plebiscite.
(5) No person shall be entitled to vote more than once at the plebiscite.
Method of taking the plebiscite.
5.—(1) In every constituency in which a poll is taken at the general election, the plebiscite shall be taken at the same time, in the same places, by the same persons, and in the same manner as such poll is taken.
(2) In every constituency in which no poll is taken at the general election owing to the number of candidates nominated not exceeding the number of vacancies to be filled, the plebiscite shall be taken at the time, in the places, by the persons, and in the manner in which such poll (if one had been taken) would have been required by law to be taken.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the law relating to the taking of a poll at a general election of members of Dáil Eireann shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to the taking of the plebiscite as if the plebiscite were a poll at such general election.
(4) If any doubt, question, or dispute shall arise or, in the opinion of the Minister, be likely to arise in relation to the modifications in the law relating to the taking of the poll at a general election of members of Dáil Eireann which are necessary to enable that law to apply, in pursuance of the next preceding sub-section of this section, to the taking of the plebiscite, such doubt, question, or dispute shall be decided by the Minister or the Minister may, if he so thinks proper, make by order any modification of the said law which appears to him to be necessary to enable such law to apply as aforesaid.
Ballot papers at the plebiscite.
6.—(1) The ballot papers at the plebiscite shall be in the form set out in the Schedule to this Act.
(2) The same official mark shall be used for the ballot papers at the plebiscite as is used for the ballot papers at the general election.
(3) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in every constituency in which a poll is taken at the general election, that is to say:—
(a) the ballot paper for the plebiscite shall be handed to each voter or, in the case of voters on the postal voters list, sent to each voter at the same time as the ballot paper for the general election is handed or sent to him;
(b) every returning officer may, if he so thinks proper, provide separate ballot boxes for the ballot papers for the plebiscite and for the ballot papers for the general election;
(c) where separate ballot boxes are not provided under the next preceding paragraph of this sub-section, the ballot papers for the plebiscite and the ballot papers for the general election shall be put into the same ballot boxes.
Voting at the plebiscite.
7.—(1) Every voter at the plebiscite shall record his vote by marking his ballot paper in accordance with the instuctions for marking which are printed on the ballot paper.
(2) Any ballot paper at the plebiscite which does not bear the official mark, or on which the mark “X” is not placed at all or is not so placed as to indicate either that the voter approves, or that he does not approve, of the Draft Constitution, or on which the mark “X” is placed in the square opposite the word “Yes” and is also placed in the square opposite the word “No”, or on which anything by which the voter can be identified (except the number required by law to be printed on the back of the ballot paper) is written or marked shall be invalid and shall not be counted.
Prevention of electoral abuses at the plebiscite.
8.—(1) The plebiscite shall be an election within the meaning and for the purposes of the Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923 (No. 38 of 1923), and the word “election” wherever it is used without qualification in that Act shall be construed as including the plebiscite and the said Act shall apply and have effect in relation to the plebiscite accordingly.
(2) In addition and without prejudice to the provisions of the next preceding sub-section of this section, every statutory provision relating to bribery, personation, or corrupt practices at elections of members of Dáil Eireann or to election petitions in respect of such elections which is in force at the passing of this Act shall apply and have effect in relation to the plebiscite, and for that purpose every reference in any such statutory provision to an election of members of Dáil Eireann shall be construed as referring to the plebiscite.
(3) For the purpose of calculating the time within which anything is required by law to be done in relation to a petition questioning the return to the plebiscite, the date on which the said return is published in the Iris Oifigiúil by the plebiscite returning officer in pursuance of this Act shall be substituted for the date on which the return to the writ for the election of members of Dáil Eireann is made by a returning officer to the Clerk of Dáil Eireann.
(4) It shall not be obligatory on a Court hearing a petition questioning the return to the plebiscite to cause a re-count to be made of the votes given or otherwise to investigate the voting or the counting of votes at the plebiscite in any constituency in respect of which the Court is satisfied that the voting in that constituency is not in issue on such petition.
(5) The agent of a candidate at the general election shall, so far as is not inconsistent with this Act, have the like privileges in relation to the plebiscite as he has in relation to the general election.
(6) Every personation agent appointed under section 22 of the Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923 (No. 38 of 1923), for the purposes of the general election shall be deemed also to have been appointed as such personation agent for the purposes of the plebiscite and shall accordingly have, in relation to the plebiscite, the like powers and duties as he has in relation to the general election.
Counting of the votes given at the plebiscite.
9.—(1) The votes given at the plebiscite in any constituency in which a poll is taken at the general election shall be counted in the same place and, so far as may be practicable, at the same time and in the same manner as the votes given in that constituency at the general election are counted, and every person who is entitled to be present at the counting of the said votes given at the general election shall be entitled to be present at the counting of the said votes given at the plebiscite.
(2) In every constituency in which no poll is taken at the general election owing to the number of candidates nominated not exceeding the number of vacancies to be filled, the returning officer for such constituency shall cause the votes given at the plebiscite in such constituency to be counted in the place, at the time and, as nearly as may be practicable, in the same manner as the votes given at the general election in such constituency (if a poll had been taken therein) would have been required by law to be counted, save that the persons entitled to be present at such counting of the said votes shall (subject to any instructions issued by the Minister under this Act) be determined by the returning officer in his absolute discretion.
(3) When the returning officer for any constituency has completed the counting of the votes given at the plebiscite in such constituency he shall take the like steps and do the like things in relation to the taking of the plebiscite in such constituency as he is required by law to do in relation to the taking of a poll, save that, immediately upon the completion of the counting of the said votes, he shall transmit by post to the plebiscite returning officer in an envelope marked “Local Return to Plebiscite” a return stating the number of votes given at the plebiscite in his constituency approving of the Draft Constitution and the number of votes so given not approving of the Draft Constitution and shall publish a copy of such return in the manner in which he is required by law to publish the result of the taking of a poll.
(4) Every envelope marked “Local Return to Plebiscite” which is sent by a returning officer by post to the plebiscite returning officer in pursuance of the next preceding sub-section of this section shall be forwarded and delivered by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs free of charge.
(5) When the plebiscite returning officer has received from the several returning officers returns of the voting at the plebiscite in all the constituencies, he shall tabulate such results and ascertain therefrom the result of the voting at the plebiscite, and shall publish in the Iris Oifigiúil a return declaring the result of the said voting, and stating the total number of votes given at the plebiscite approving of the Draft Constitution and the total number of votes similarly given not approving of the Draft Constitution, and also stating in respect of every constituency the number of votes given at the plebiscite in such constituency approving of the Draft Constitution and the number of votes similarly given not approving of the Draft Constitution.
(6) The publication in the Iris Oifigiúil in pursuance of the next preceding sub-section of this section of the return required by that sub-section to be so published shall be conclusive evidence of the several matters declared or stated in such return, save in so far as such matters or any of them may be varied on or in consequence of an election petition.
Issuing of instructions by the Minister.
10.—(1) The Minister may issue to all or any returning officers such instructions in relation to the conduct of the plebiscite, and in relation, in particular, to compliance with the enactments and the use of forms relating to elections which are made applicable to the plebiscite by this Act, as the Minister shall consider necessary or desirable in order to ensure the smooth and efficient taking of the plebiscite and to secure uniformity of procedure in regard thereto in all constituencies.
(2) It shall be the duty of every returning officer to observe and comply with all instructions given to him by the Minister under the next preceding sub-section of this section.
(3) If any difficulty shall arise in the taking of the plebiscite in pursuance of this Act, the Minister may by order do any matter or thing which appears to him to be necessary for the proper taking of the plebiscite.
(4) No returning officer shall be required or authorised by an instruction given to him or an order made by the Minister under this section to do any act (whether of commission or omission) which is contrary to this Act or which would, directly or indirectly, infringe the secrecy of the ballot at the plebiscite.
Returning officers' expenses.
11.—(1) The plebiscite returning officer and every returning officer for a constituency shall be entitled to his reasonable charges, not exceeding the sums specified in the appropriate scale of maximum charges framed under this section, in respect of services and expenses of the several kinds mentioned in the said scale which have been properly rendered or incurred by him for the purposes of or in connection with the plebiscite.
(2) The amount of any such charge as is mentioned in the foregoing sub-section of this section shall be paid by the Minister for Finance out of the central fund or the growing produce thereof on an account to be submitted to him in accordance with regulations made by him under this section, but the said Minister may, if he thinks fit, before payment of the charges of any returning officer for a constituency apply to the Judge of the Circuit Court having jurisdiction in such constituency for the taxation of such account and thereupon such Judge shall cause such account to be taxed and the amount payable thereunder to be determined by the county registrar.
(3) The Minister for Finance may, if he so thinks fit, on the application of the plebiscite returning officer or any returning officer for a constituency, make to such officer, on such terms as the said Minister shall think proper, an advance on account of the charges of such officer under this section.
(4) The taxation under this section of the account of a returning officer for a constituency shall, if the Judge so directs on the application of such returning officer, include the taxation and determination of the amount of any claim made by any person against such returning officer in respect of any matter charged for in such account.
(5) The Minister for Finance shall prescribe for the purposes of this section scales of maximum charges by the plebiscite returning officer and returning officers for constituencies respectively, and shall also make regulations prescribing the time when and manner and form in which accounts are to be rendered to him for the purpose of payment of charges under this section.
Short title.
12.—This Act may be cited as the Plebiscite (Draft Constitution) Act, 1937.
SCEIDEAL.
SCHEDULE.
FUIRM AN PHAIPEIR BHALLOIDE.
FORM OF BALLOT PAPER.
Fuirm Eadain an Phaiper Bhalloide.
Form of Front of Ballot Paper.
