May 22nd is referendum day. Irish voters will go to the polls to decide on the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam. Technically, they will decide whether to approve the Government's proposal to change article 29 of the Constitution. This will permit the state to ratify the Treaty of Amsterdam, and to exercise certain options offered by the Treaty.
The Treaty cannot come into effect unless and until all 15 member states ratify it. Three countries will hold a referendum this time - Ireland, Denmark and Portugal. All the others will ratify it by simple vote of their parliaments. This is the fourth occasion on which Irish voters have had their say on EU treaties.
Steps to the Treaty
The Treaty of Amsterdam is another step towards European integration. It is the result of a process that started with the Maastricht Treaty. The negotiators at Maastricht were unable to reach agreement on everything, and they agreed to return to those matters in 1996. The main points at issue were increasing the powers of the European Parliament, and deepening co-operation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
In 1996, to fulfil their undertakings, the EU governments set up a Reflection Group to tease out likely areas of agreement and of dispute. Each foreign minister nominated a personal representative on this group. The Irish team was led by Minister for European Affairs, Gay Mitchell, and at official level by Noel Dorr, a most experienced diplomat, recently retired.
When the Reflection Group reported in June, 1996, an Inter-Governmental Conference was established. This, as its name suggests, is a standing conference of the 15 EU governments, which meets to negotiate and agree on any changes to be made to EU treaties. For any changes to be made, all must agree.
The Intergovernmental Conference met regularly over the months from May 1996 to June 1997. The then Irish Government had the task of chairing the IGC from July to December 1996, during the Irish "Presidency", and made the first draft of the final text at the end of that period. This draft became the text on which the remainder of the negotiations were based.
Table with this story - renamed EPSTABLE!!!
May 10th 1972 3rd amendment 83.1 16.9 70.9 (to join EC)
May 26th 1987 10th amendment 69.9 30.1 43.9 (To ratify Single European Act)
June 18th 1992 11th amendment 69.1 30.9 57.3 (To ratify Maastricht Treaty)
This referendum will be the 18th amendment to the Constitution. Polling stations will be open from XXXX00 to XXXX00 on May 22nd, and the result should be known the following evening. Denmark will vote a week later.
The amendment, if carried, will insert the following text in article 29 of the Constitution:
5 The State may ratify the Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related Acts signed at Amsterdam on the 2nd day of October 1997.
6 The State may exercise the options or discretions provided by or under Articles 1.11, 2.5 and 2.15 of the Treaty referred to in subsection 5 of this section and the second and fourth Protocols set out in the said Treaty but any such exercise shall be subject to the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.
Irish Referendums on Europe
Percentage: For against turnout
May 10th 1972 3rd amendment 83.1 16.9 70.9
(To join EC) May 26th 1987 10th amendment (To ratify Single European Act) 69.9 30.1 43.9
June 18th 1992 11th amendment(To ratify Maastricht Treaty) 69.1 30.9 57.3