The Irish government has announced that the referendum on the European Stability treaty will take place on Thursday 31st May. The announcement was made Tuesday in the Dáil by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.
Voters will be asked to agree to a subsection being inserted into article 29.4 of the Constitution.
It will state: "The State may ratify the treaty on stability co-ordination and governance in the economic and monetary union, done in Brussels on March 2nd, 2012. No provision in this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the State that are necessitated by the obligations of the State under that treaty or prevents laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by bodies competent under that treaty from having the force of law in the State."
Mr. Gilmore said this meant the people were being asked to ratify the treaty and to enable the Oireachtas to adopt legislation in order to implement the treaty. The necessary bill to amend the Constitution is being prepared for publication towards the end of this week, the Irish Times reported.
Irish citizens living outside the country, with the exception of diplomats, government employyess and military personnel, will not be able to vote in the referendum.
