At stake in this Referendum:

• An amendment to the Constitution to affirm the rights of the child and allow the State, in exceptional circumstances, to take the place of parents. A new standalone article will be introduced, Article 42A,'Children.'

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. Six 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:

• The introduction of Article 42A into the Constitution.

Electoral Requirements

• A simple majority vote is required in both referenda for ratification of the agreement.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 4,670,976 (July 2011 est.)
• Registered Voters: 3,183,686 (November 2012 )

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.)