Referendum on the Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004 – Citizenship

Polling at the referendum took place on Friday, 11th June, 2004 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Elections to the European Parliament and to local authorities took place on the same day.

The subject matter of the referendum was described as follows in a statement for the information of voters:

1. The 27th Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004 proposes to insert the following section after section 1 of Article 9 of the Constitution:

‘2

1° Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, a person born on the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas, who does not have, at the time of the birth of that person, at least one parent who is an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen is not entitled to Irish citizenship or nationality, unless provided for by law.
2° This section shall not apply to persons born before the date of the enactment of this section.’

The total number of votes recorded in favour of the proposal was 1,427,520 and the total number recorded against the proposal was 375,695. As the proposal was duly approved by the people, the Bill was signed by the President on 24th June, 2004 and promulgated as a law.

Result Summary

Electorate: 3,041,688
Total Poll: 1,823,434
Percentage Poll: 59.95%
Votes in favour of the proposal: 1,427,520
Votes against the proposal: 375,695
Invalid Ballot Papers: 20,219