Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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631. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the Government plans to hold a referendum to change the constitution to reduce the threshold required for the nomination of presidential election candidates. [61861/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Article 12.4 of the Constitution sets out the requirements in respect of obtaining a nomination in order to run for election to the office of President. Article 12.4 2° states: "Every candidate for election, not a former or retiring President, must be nominated either by

i not less than twenty persons, each of whom is at the time a member of one of the Houses of the Oireachtas, or

ii by the Councils of not less than four administrative Counties (including County Boroughs) as defined by law."

Article 12.4.4° states that former or retiring Presidents may become candidates on their own nomination.

Part II of the Presidential Elections Act, 1993, sets out the relevant legislative provisions in relation to the nomination of candidates at a Presidential election.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent electoral commission, was established on 9 February 2023 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022. An Coimisiún's research, advisory and public information function will see it carry out research on electoral policy and procedure. An Coimisiún is also empowered to advise and make recommendations to the Government in relation to any proposals for legislative change, or any other policy matters concerning electoral policy or procedures.

While the Programme for Government does not contain a commitment in respect of holding a referendum to change the Constitution to reduce the threshold required for the nomination of presidential election candidates, electoral law and policy is kept under ongoing review by my Department.