Chairman of the Constitutional Convention Tom Arnold has called for a review of the low level of public engagement with referendums before any further votes take place.
It follows a comment by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore that the Government may be considering holding a referendum on same-sex marriage, one of the issues considered by the convention.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Arnold said it was a concern of the convention that prior engagement with referendum votes had been poor.
When asked whether he felt that this issue should be addressed before any additional referendums are held, Mr Arnold said: "I think so. I think it's a basic issue for our democracy.
"I think it's a strand running through our work, that we need better engagement with the public on matters political."
He said that when the convention discussed electoral reform, there was a very strong concern over the lack of engagement and turnout.
Mr Arnold also said there was a wide range of discussion around making it easier for people to vote.
A memo addressing the third report of the Constitutional Convention is to go before the Cabinet tomorrow.
One of the issues to be discussed is gay marriage.
