Referenda turnout could be among worst ever

With one of the lowest turnouts in the history of the State being forecast for today’s referendums, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have appealed to the country’s 3.1m voters to get out and cast their votes.

“I hope there will be a high turnout,” said Taoiseach Enda Kenny as he launched one last attack on Fianna Fáil, saying his opponents thought so much about the Seanad that they adjourned business one day so they could all head off to a golf competition.

“I suppose you could say the attitude of the Fianna Fáil party towards Seanad Eireann was epitomised a few years ago when the Senate was adjourned so the members could go and participate in the Oireachtas golf competition,” Mr Kenny said as he announced 75 jobs at the Irish tech firm IT Alliance in Dublin.