CONFIRMED: Ireland will go to the polls again on Friday, June 7

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien has made orders designating Friday, June 7 as the polling day for the local, European Parliament and Limerick mayoral elections.

While the date had been previously announced by the government, the signing of the orders marks the official beginning of the campaign.  

Voting will take place across the country between 7am and 10pm with the sorting and counting of votes starting at 9am the following day.

The minister has appointed Barry Ryan, a principal officer in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to be the chief returning officer for the European Parliament elections while a local returning officer has been appointed to each of the three constituencies - Dublin, South and Midlands-North-West.

Following the signing of the orders,  public notices will issued in the coming days confirming the times for receiving nominations for each of the elections and of the application requirements for those seeking to be candidates. 

Minister O'Brien has also moved to clarify the time period during which candidates can erect election posters in public places.

Posters can be put up from May 8, 30 days before the polling date, and there is a requirement for candidates to remove all posters within 7 days of the poll (June 14).

Members of the public are being advised that to be eligible to vote, they must be 18 years of age or over on or before polling day and be ordinarily resident in the constituency in which they wish to vote. 

They must also be included on the Register of Electors.   

Everyone is encouraged to check that their details are correct and up to date at checktheregister.ie.

A referendum on the Unified Patent Court will also take place on Friday, June 7.