Constitution (2004)

REFERENDUMS HELD ON EUROPEAN MATTERS: 6

1972: EU - Accession (Yes 83 % - No 17 % - Turnout 71 %)
1987: Single European Act (Yes 70 % - No 30 % - Turnout 44 %)
1992: Treaty of Maastricht (Yes 69 % - No 31 % - Turnout 57 %)
1998: Treaty of Amsterdam (Yes 62 % - No 38 % - Turnout 56 %)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS - Constitution of Ireland

Binding referendum provided for any transfer of power because that requires a constitutional amendment which makes a referendum mandatory.

ARTICLES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, REFERENDUM AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Regulation about a special transfer of sovereignty to EU:
A decision taken by the European Council to establish a common defence shall not be adopted if Ireland would be included, Art. 29 IV 9 ConstIreland.

Approval of transfer of sovereignty without effect of constitutional amendment:
Majority from both chambers, Art. 29 V, VI ConstIreland.

Approval of transfer of sovereignty with effect of constitutional amendment:
Not expressly regulated, but constitutional amendment required.

Approval of constitutional amendment:
Majority from both chambers and by mandatory and binding referendum, Art. 46, 47 ConstIreland.

Other constitutional regulations about referendums:
Any bill not amending the constitution can be given to a referendum on demand of a majority of the members of parliament or not less than 1/3 of the members of senate, Art. 27 ConstIreland.

DATE OF REFERENDUM

2001: Treaty of Nice (No 54 % - Yes 46 % - Turnout 35 %)
2002: Treaty of Nice (Yes 63 % - No 37 % - Turnout 49 %)

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND MATERIAL

Gilland, K. (2002), Ireland's Second Referendum On The Treaty of Nice, Sussex European Institute, EPERN Referendum Briefings No 1.

House of Commons, The Irish Referendum on the Treaty of Nice, Resarch Paper, 21.06..2001.