Editing Ordinary referendum (section)

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An '''ordinary referendum''' in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] is a [[referendum]] on a [[bill (proposed law)|bill]] other than a [[Amendments to the Constitution of Ireland|bill to amend the Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/Voting/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,1893,en.pdf|title=The Referendum in Ireland|publisher=Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government|access-date=23 April 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910222312/http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/Voting/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,1893,en.pdf|archive-date=10 September 2008}}</ref> [[Constitution of Ireland|The Constitution]] prescribes the process in Articles 27 ("'''Reference of Bills to the People'''") and 47 ("The Referendum<!-- not bold as also relates to constitutional referendum -->"). Whereas a ''constitutional referendum'' is mandatory for a constitutional amendment bill, an ordinary referendum occurs only if the bill "contains a proposal of such national importance that the will of the people thereon ought to be ascertained". This is decided [[President of Ireland#Discretionary power|at the discretion of the President]], after a petition by [[Oireachtas]] members including a majority of [[Seanad Éireann|Senators]]. No such petition has ever been presented, and thus no ordinary referendum has ever been held.<ref name="CoakleyGallagher2010"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/referenda/ordinary_referendum.html |title=Ordinary Referendum |publisher=Citizens Information Bureau |location=Dublin |date=30 April 2008 }}</ref>