Irish European Fiscal Compact referendum, 2012
The Irish European Fiscal Compact referendum is planned to be held on 31 May 2012.[1][2][3] If passed it will allow Ireland to ratify the European Fiscal Compact by amending its constitution. The decision to hold a referendum on the Fiscal Compact was made by the Irish government following advice from the Attorney General and was announced by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on 28 February 2012 prior to the signing ceremony.[4]
The referendum was welcomed by opposition parties, with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams promising to lead a "strong anti-treaty campaign".[4] On 29 February 2012, Éamon Ó Cuív resigned as Fianna Fáil's Deputy leader and Communications spokesperson due to dissatisfaction with his party's position on the referendum.[5]
The bill paving the way for the referendum was published on 28 March 2012. It is officially entitled the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012,[6] and proposes to insert a new clause in Article 29 of the Constitution.
[edit] Proposed changes
- Article 29.4:[6]
- 10° The State may ratify the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union done at Brussels on the 2nd day of March 2012. No provision of 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.
[edit] Opinion polls
| Date | Source | Polling agency | Sample size | For | Against | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 April 2012[7] | The Sunday Business Post | RED C | 1,000 | 47% | 35% | 18% |
| 22 April 2012[8] | The Sunday Times | Behaviour and Attitudes | 946 | 42% | 27% | 31% |
| 19 April 2012[9] | The Irish Times | Ipsos MRBI | 1,000 | 30% | 23% | 39% (plus 8% 'will not vote') |
| 25 March 2012[10] | The Sunday Business Post | RED C | 1,000 | 49% | 33% | 18% |
| 4 March 2012[11] | The Sunday Business Post | RED C | 1,000 | 44% | 29% | 26% |
| 4 March 2012[12] | Sunday Independent | Millward Brown Lansdowne | ? | 37% | 26% | 15% (plus 21% 'depends') |
| 29 January 2012[13] | The Sunday Business Post | RED C | ? | 40% | 36% | 24% |
[edit] References
- ^ "Fiscal treaty referendum to be held on 31 May". RTÉ News. 27 March 2012. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0327/referendum.html.
- ^ "Ireland referendum on EU pact to be held on 31 May". BBC News. 27 March 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17528290.
- ^ "Fiscal Stability Treaty poll set for Thursday, May 31". Irish Independent. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fiscal-stability-treaty-poll-set-for-thursday-may-31-3062876.html. Retrieved 27 March 201.
- ^ a b "Ireland to hold referendum on European fiscal pact". Newsday. 27 February 2012. http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/ireland-to-hold-referendum-on-european-fiscal-pact-1.3562705.
- ^ "O Cuiv steps down as FF Deputy leader over EU treaty". Irish Independent. 29 February 2012. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/o-cuiv-steps-down-as-ff-deputy-leader-over-eu-treaty-3034588.html.
- ^ a b "Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012". Oireachtas.ie. the Houses of the Oireachtas. http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=20761&&CatID=59. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ "Poll shows slight increase in EU Fiscal Treaty opponents". RTÉ News. 28 April 2012. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0428/poll-shows-slight-narrowing-in-treaty-support.html. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- ^ "Poll indicates 55% of voters do not understand European Union Fiscal Treaty". RTÉ News. 21 April 2012. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0421/poll-shows-voters-do-not-understand-fiscal-treaty.html. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ "Poll shows 40% of voters have yet to decide how to vote on Fiscal Treaty referendum". RTÉ News. 19 April 2012. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0419/four-in-ten-voters-undecided-on-fiscal-treaty-vote.html. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
- ^ "Poll shows support for EU Fiscal Treaty". RTÉ News. 24 March 2012. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0324/referendum.html. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Poll shows support for Yes vote". The Irish Times. 3 March 2012. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0303/breaking1.html. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Two opinion polls suggest support for treaty". RTÉ News. 3 March 2012. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0303/treaty.html. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Poll shows support for Treaty referendum". RTÉ News. 30 January 2012. http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0128/redc.html. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
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