Irish constitutional referendums, 1998

Two referendums were held together in the Republic of Ireland on 22 May 1998, each on a proposed amendment of the Irish constitution. Both measures were approved. A referendum in Northern Ireland was also held on the same day.

Eighteenth amendment

The Eighteenth Amendment introduced two new articles into the constitution which allowed the government to ratify the Amsterdam Treaty.

Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland referendum^[1]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	932,632	61.74
No	578,070	38.26
Valid votes	1,510,702	97.85
Invalid or blank votes	33,228	2.15
Total votes	1,543,930	100.00
Registered voters and turnout	2,747,088	56.20

Nineteenth amendment

The Nineteenth Amendment to the constitution allowed the government to ratify the Good Friday Agreement done at Belfast on 10 April 1998, which included changing articles 2 and 3 of the Irish constitution which effectively claimed Irish sovereignty over Northern Ireland. The agreement was also endorsed in the simultaneous referendum in Northern Ireland. Articles 2 and 3 were subsequently changed in December 1999.

Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland referendum^[1]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,442,583	94.39
No	85,748	5.61
Valid votes	1,528,331	98.90
Invalid or blank votes	17,064	1.10
Total votes	1,545,395	100.00
Registered voters and turnout	2,747,088	56.26

See also

• Constitutional amendment
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland
• History of the Republic of Ireland
• Politics of Northern Ireland
• History of Northern Ireland

References

1. "Referendum Results" (PDF). Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Retrieved 14 August 2014.