Old page wikitext, before the edit ($1) (old_wikitext) | '{{Short description|Amendment on the European Communities}}
{{For|other laws or bills of this name|Third Amendment (disambiguation){{!}}Third Amendment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox referendum
| name = Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
| title = To permit the state to join the European Communities
| country = Ireland
| date = {{Start date|1972|05|10|df=y}}
| yes = 1,041,890
| no = 211,891
| total = 1,264,278
| electorate = 1,783,604
| map =
}}
The '''Third Amendment of the Constitution Act 1972''' is an [[amendments to the Constitution of Ireland|amendment]] to the [[Constitution of Ireland]] that permitted the [[Republic of Ireland|State]] to join the [[European Communities]], which would later become the [[European Union]], and provided that [[European Union law|European Community law]] would take precedence over the constitution. It was approved by referendum on 10 May 1972, and signed into law by the [[President of Ireland]] [[Éamon de Valera]] on 8 June of the same year.
The incorporation of the [[European Union law|law of the European Communities]] into Irish domestic law was put into effect by the [[European Communities Act 1972 (Ireland)|European Communities Act 1972]], which became law on the day Ireland acceded to the European Communities on 1 January 1973.
==Background==
{{more citations needed|section|date=November 2023}}
{{Politics of the European Union}}
[[Belgium]], [[France]], [[West Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Luxembourg]] and the [[Netherlands]] formed the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951. In 1957, the same six countries formed the [[European Economic Community]] and [[European Atomic Energy Community]]. Together, these were known as the [[European Communities]] and shared common [[Institutions of the European Union|institutions]].
In 1961, Ireland applied to join the European Communities. This application was withdrawn after [[President of France]] [[Charles de Gaulle]] exercised a veto in respect of the application of the [[United Kingdom]]. A second application was made in 1967, and in 1972, the six member states signed a [[Treaty of Accession 1972|Treaty of Accession]] with [[Denmark]], Ireland, [[Norway]] and the United Kingdom. As Ireland had no [[nuclear power]] programme, nor any important coal and steel industries, membership of the Communities primarily concerned the European Economic Community.
In ''[[Costa v ENEL]]'' (1964), the [[European Court of Justice]] established the [[Primacy of European Union law|primacy of European Community law]]. Therefore, an amendment was needed in order to avoid a conflict with the [[Constitution of Ireland]], which had granted powers exclusively to the [[Oireachtas]] (parliament) and the [[Government of Ireland]]. It was also possible that many provisions of the Constitution might be found to be incompatible with European law.
==Changes to the text==
Addition of a new subsection to Article 29.4 of the Constitution:
{{quote frame|3° The State may become a member of the European Coal and Steel Community (established by Treaty signed at Paris on the 18th day of April, 1951), the European Economic Community (established by Treaty signed at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957) and the European Atomic Energy Community (established by Treaty signed at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957). No provision of this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the State necessitated by the obligations of membership of the Communities or prevents laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the Communities, or institutions thereof, from having the force of law in the State.}}
==Oireachtas debate==
The Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1971 was introduced in the Dáil by [[Tánaiste]] [[Erskine Hamilton Childers|Erskine H. Childers]] of [[Fianna Fáil]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-11-23/24/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: First Stage. |date=23 November 1971 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202822/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-11-23/24/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the opposition parties, it was supported by [[Fine Gael]] and opposed by the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]. At the Second Stage debates, it was moved by [[Taoiseach]] [[Jack Lynch]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-12-02/3/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Second Stage. |date=2 December 1971 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202738/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-12-02/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Labour Party sought to defeat the reading of the bill at second stage; a government motion to prevent this passed by 106 votes to 17, and the bill proceeded to Committee Stage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-12-09/62/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Second Stage (Resumed). |date=9 December 1971 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=25 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425031940/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-12-09/62/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At Committee Stage, the government accepted a Fine Gael amendment to the final sentence. As initiated, this sentence had begun, "No provision of this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the State '''consequent on''' membership of the Communities […]"; the amendment replaced the words highlighted in bold with the words "'''necessitated by the obligations of'''".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-25/23/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Committee Stage. |date=25 January 1972 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202503/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-25/23/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-26/13/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Committee Stage (Resumed). |date=26 January 1972 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=25 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425033505/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-26/13/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It passed all stages in the Dáil on 26 January 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-26/17/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Report and Final Stages. |date=26 January 1972 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202439/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-26/17/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It passed all stages in the Seanad on 8 March 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1972-03-08/3/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Report and Final Stages. |date=8 March 1972 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202824/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1972-03-08/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Views on accession==
As well as parties represented in the Oireachtas, accession was also supported by employers' and farmers' interest groups.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} Then President [[Éamon de Valera]] privately opposed the state's entry and voted 'no', citing the loss of [[sovereignty]].<ref>''Éamon de Valera'', Ronan Fanning, p. 259.</ref>
[[Official Sinn Féin]] (now the Workers Party) opposed the state's entry, citing [[anti-imperialism]] and calling the EC a "rich man's club".<ref name=UIEEC>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jgra94rWmAAC&pg=PA353&dq=United+Irishman+EEC#q=United%20Irishman%20EEC |title=Official Irish Republicanism: 1962–1972 |author=Sean Swan |date=2008 |isbn=9781430319344 |access-date=15 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=BT_20160523>{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/after-41-years-of-shifting-battlelines-the-brexit-vote-for-northern-ireland-is-a-very-tough-one-to-call-34736918.html |title=After 41 years of shifting battlelines, the Brexit vote for Northern Ireland is a very tough one to call |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=23 May 2016 |access-date=15 July 2018 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164331/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/after-41-years-of-shifting-battlelines-the-brexit-vote-for-northern-ireland-is-a-very-tough-one-to-call-34736918.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Sinn Féin|Provisional Sinn Féin]] (now Sinn Féin) also opposed the entry, saying it would undermine Irish sovereignty and that the "Common Market Empire would threaten Irish ownership of Irish land".<ref name=BT_20160523/>
==Result==
The Third Amendment was approved with 83.1% in favour to 16.9% against.<ref name=Ref_results>{{cite web |url=http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/referendum_results_1937-2015.pdf |work=[[Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government]] |title=Referendum Results 1937–2015 |page=27 |date=23 August 2016 |access-date=15 April 2018 |archive-date=20 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220195002/http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/referendum_results_1937-2015.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the first amendment to the Constitution to be approved by Irish voters in a referendum.
{{Referendum
|title = Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland referendum
|yes = 1,041,890
|yespct = 83.09
|no = 211,891
|nopct = 16.91
|valid = 1,253,781
|validpct = 99.17
|invalid = 10,497
|invalidpct = 0.83
|total = 1,264,278
|turnoutpct = 70.88
|electorate = 1,783,604
}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Results by constituency<ref name=Ref_results/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | Constituency
! rowspan=2 | Electorate
! rowspan=2 | {{nowrap|Turnout (%)}}
! colspan=2 | Votes
! colspan=2 | Proportion of votes
|-
! Yes
! No
! Yes
! No
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil constituency)|Carlow–Kilkenny]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 59,415
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''36,588'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,278
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cavan (Dáil constituency)|Cavan]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,229
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.3%
| style="text-align: right; | '''24,266'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,178
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''88.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 11.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Clare (Dáil constituency)|Clare]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 39,413
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,833'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,510
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''86.7%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 13.3%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Clare–South Galway (Dáil constituency)|Clare–South Galway]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,820
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,027'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,855
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''88.5%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 11.5%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork City North-West (Dáil constituency)|Cork City North-West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 36,115
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''21,208'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,995
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''84.3%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 15.7%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork City South-East (Dáil constituency)|Cork City South-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 36,476
| style="text-align: right;" | 75.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,887'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,492
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.6%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.4%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork Mid (Dáil constituency)|Cork Mid]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 49,402
| style="text-align: right;" | 77.3%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''31,962'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,050
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''84.1%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 15.9%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork North-East (Dáil constituency)|Cork North-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 50,016
| style="text-align: right;" | 76.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''32,439'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,544
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''85.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 14.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork South-West (Dáil constituency)|Cork South-West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 38,285
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.3%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''24,553'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,680
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''87.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 13.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Donegal North-East (Dáil constituency)|Donegal North-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,924
| style="text-align: right;" | 65.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,554'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,030
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''91.7%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 8.3%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Donegal–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)|Donegal–Leitrim]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 38,540
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.8%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,005'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,908
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''84.9%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 15.1%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Central]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 46,775
| style="text-align: right;" | 62.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,289'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,750
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''76.8%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 23.2%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin County North (Dáil constituency)|Dublin County North]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 58,761
| style="text-align: right;" | 68.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''32,004'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 8,125
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''79.8%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 20.2%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin County South (Dáil constituency)|Dublin County South]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 45,289
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''26,838'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,901
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''82.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 18.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin North-Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North-Central]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 49,073
| style="text-align: right;" | 68.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''26,257'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,028
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''78.9%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 21.1%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin North-East (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 55,483
| style="text-align: right;" | 73.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''31,637'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 8,930
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''78.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 22.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin North-West (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North-West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 44,369
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.0%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,494'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,978
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''76.3%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 23.7%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin South-Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin South-Central]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 50,400
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.5%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''25,766'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,955
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''76.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 23.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin South-East (Dáil constituency)|Dublin South-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,840
| style="text-align: right;" | 68.0%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''20,859'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,692
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''81.6%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 18.4%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin South-West (Dáil constituency)|Dublin South-West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 41,740
| style="text-align: right;" | 65.5%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''19,893'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,344
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''73.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 27.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown (Dáil constituency)|Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 56,151
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''34,102'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,474
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''84.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Galway North-East (Dáil constituency)|Galway North-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,358
| style="text-align: right;" | 69.3%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''21,398'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,283
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''90.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 9.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Galway West (Dáil constituency)|Galway West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 35,999
| style="text-align: right;" | 62.0%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''17,400'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,806
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''78.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 21.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Kerry North (Dáil constituency)|Kerry North]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,018
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''18,500'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,064
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''75.3%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 24.7%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Kerry South (Dáil constituency)|Kerry South]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 36,391
| style="text-align: right;" | 66.9%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''19,237'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,890
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''79.7%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 20.3%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Kildare (Dáil constituency)|Kildare]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 40,065
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.0%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''23,213'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,599
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.5%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.5%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Laois–Offaly (Dáil constituency)|Laois–Offaly]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 56,344
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''35,728'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,823
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''86.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 14.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Limerick East (Dáil constituency)|Limerick East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 47,001
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''25,957'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,280
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''78.1%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 21.9%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Limerick West (Dáil constituency)|Limerick West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 35,904
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,971'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,432
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''87.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 13.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Longford–Westmeath (Dáil constituency)|Longford–Westmeath]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 47,095
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''28,210'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,713
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''85.7%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 14.3%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Louth (Dáil constituency)|Louth]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 40,278
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''24,623'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,187
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''85.5%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 14.5%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Mayo East (Dáil constituency)|Mayo East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,810
| style="text-align: right;" | 66.9%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''20,691'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,422
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''89.5%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 10.5%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Mayo West (Dáil constituency)|Mayo West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,106
| style="text-align: right;" | 63.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''19,157'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,332
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''89.1%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 10.9%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Meath (Dáil constituency)|Meath]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 39,040
| style="text-align: right;" | 73.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''23,765'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,605
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.8%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.2%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Monaghan (Dáil constituency)|Monaghan]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 36,214
| style="text-align: right;" | 73.8%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''23,179'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,330
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''87.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 12.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Roscommon–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)|Roscommon–Leitrim]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,682
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,964'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,375
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''87.2%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 12.8%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Sligo–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)|Sligo–Leitrim]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 38,049
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,915'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,598
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''86.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 13.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Tipperary North (Dáil constituency)|Tipperary North]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,754
| style="text-align: right;" | 76.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,147'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,286
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.8%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.2%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Tipperary South (Dáil constituency)|Tipperary South]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 46,127
| style="text-align: right;" | 76.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''29,343'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,638
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.9%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.1%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Waterford (Dáil constituency)|Waterford]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 39,513
| style="text-align: right;" | 73.9%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''24,086'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,964
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''82.9%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 17.1%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Wexford (Dáil constituency)|Wexford]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 49,881
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''28,635'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,105
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''80.1%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 19.9%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Wicklow (Dáil constituency)|Wicklow]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 39,389
| style="text-align: right;" | 71.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,310'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,502
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''80.2%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 19.8%
|- class="sortbottom" style="font-weight:bold; background:rgb(232,232,232);"
| Total
| style="text-align: right;" | 1,783,604
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.9%
| style="text-align: right;" | 1,041,890
| style="text-align: right;" | 211,891
| style="text-align: right;" | 83.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.9%
|}
==Aftermath and later developments==
The [[European Communities Act 1972 (Ireland)|European Communities Act 1972]] was signed into law on 6 December 1972. This provided a legislative basis for the primacy and [[Direct effect of European Union law|direct effect]] of European Community law. On 1 January 1973, Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom [[1973 enlargement of the European Communities|became member states of the European Communities]] (Norway had rejected membership in a [[1972 Norwegian European Communities membership referendum|referendum]]).
Unlike in the United Kingdom where the issue of membership to the European Communities was the subject of fierce political debate for decades which would eventually lead to [[Brexit]] in 2020 after a [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|referendum was held in 2016]] which ended 47 years of British membership in Ireland the outcome of the referendum on the Third Amendment immediately settled the issue of Ireland's place in Europe amongst both the Irish people and its politicians and in the decades that followed Irish support for continued membership would in fact continue to grow.
In ''[[Crotty v. An Taoiseach]]'' (1987), the [[Supreme Court of Ireland]] held that further transfer of power to the European Communities that were not in themselves necessitated by membership of the European Communities (in that instance, approval of the [[Single European Act]]) would require further amendments to the Constitution, and therefore require approval by referendum. Subsequent changes to the Treaties of the European Communities and later of the [[European Union]] have also required amendments to the Constitution, and therefore have required approval by referendum. These amendments have substantially altered the initial wording of 29.4.3° as inserted by the Third Amendment. in particular, the [[Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland]] approved in 2009, allowing the ratification of the [[Treaty of Lisbon]], created a different structure to the subsections in Article 29.4.
In later years the various European organisations (with the exception of EAEC) were integrated by the ratification of subsequent treaties into the European Union.
==See also==
*[[Politics of the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[History of the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[Law of the Republic of Ireland]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1972/en/act/cam/0003/index.html Third Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972]
*[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/en/constitution/index.html Full text of the Constitution of Ireland]
{{Amendments of the Constitution of Ireland}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Third Amendment Of The Constitution Of Ireland}}
[[Category:1972 in international relations]]
[[Category:1972 in Irish law]]
[[Category:1972 in Irish politics]]
[[Category:1972 referendums]]
[[Category:Amendments of the Constitution of Ireland|03]]
[[Category:History of the European Union|Ireland Amendments of the Constitution]]
[[Category:Ireland and the European Union]]
[[Category:Constitutional referendums in the Republic of Ireland|03c]]
[[Category:Referendums related to European Union accession]]
[[Category:May 1972 events in Europe]]
[[Category:1970s elections in Ireland|Amendment, 03]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit ($1) (new_wikitext) | '{{Short description|Amendment on the European Communities}}
{{For|other laws or bills of this name|Third Amendment (disambiguation){{!}}Third Amendment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox referendum
| name = Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
| title = To permit the state to join the European Communities
| country = Ireland
| date = {{Start date|1972|05|10|df=y}}
| yes = 1,041,890
| no = 211,891
| total = 1,264,278
| electorate = 1,783,604
| map =
}}
The '''Third Amendment of the Constitution Act 1972''' is an [[amendments to the Constitution of Ireland|amendment]] to the [[Constitution of Ireland]] that permitted the [[Republic of Ireland|State]] to join the [[European Communities]], which would later become the [[European Union]], and provided that [[European Union law|European Community law]] would take precedence over the constitution. It was approved by referendum on 10 May 1972, and signed into law by the [[President of Ireland]] [[Éamon de Valera]] on 8 June of the same year.
The incorporation of the [[European Union law|law of the European Communities]] into Irish domestic law was put into effect by the [[European Communities Act 1972 (Ireland)|European Communities Act 1972]], which became law on the day Ireland acceded to the European Communities on 1 January 1973.
==Background==
{{more citations needed|section|date=November 2023}}
{{Politics of the European Union}}
[[Belgium]], [[France]], [[West Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Luxembourg]] and the [[Netherlands]] formed the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951. In 1957, the same six countries formed the [[European Economic Community]] and [[European Atomic Energy Community]]. Together, these were known as the [[European Communities]] and shared common [[Institutions of the European Union|institutions]].
In 1961, Ireland applied to join the European Communities. This application was withdrawn after [[President of France]] [[Charles de Gaulle]] exercised a veto in respect of the application of the [[United Kingdom]]. A second application was made in 1967, and in 1972, the six member states signed a [[Treaty of Accession 1972|Treaty of Accession]] with [[Denmark]], Ireland, [[Norway]] and the United Kingdom. As Ireland had no [[nuclear power]] programme, nor any important coal and steel industries, membership of the Communities primarily concerned the European Economic Community.
In ''[[Costa v ENEL]]'' (1964), the [[European Court of Justice]] established the [[Primacy of European Union law|primacy of European Community law]]. Therefore, an amendment was needed in order to avoid a conflict with the [[Constitution of Ireland]], which had granted powers exclusively to the [[Oireachtas]] (parliament) and the [[Government of Ireland]]. It was also possible that many provisions of the Constitution might be found to be incompatible with European law.
==Changes to the text==
Addition of a new subsection to Article 29.4 of the Constitution:
{{quote frame|3° The State may become a member of the European Coal and Steel Community (established by Treaty signed at Paris on the 18th day of April, 1951), the European Economic Community (established by Treaty signed at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957) and the European Atomic Energy Community (established by Treaty signed at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957). No provision of this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the State necessitated by the obligations of membership of the Communities or prevents laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the Communities, or institutions thereof, from having the force of law in the State.}}
==Oireachtas debate==
The Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1971 was introduced in the Dáil by [[Tánaiste]] [[Erskine Hamilton Childers|Erskine H. Childers]] of [[Fianna Fáil]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-11-23/24/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: First Stage. |date=23 November 1971 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202822/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-11-23/24/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the opposition parties, it was supported by [[Fine Gael]] and opposed by the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]. At the Second Stage debates, it was moved by [[Taoiseach]] [[Jack Lynch]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-12-02/3/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Second Stage. |date=2 December 1971 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202738/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-12-02/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Labour Party sought to defeat the reading of the bill at second stage; a government motion to prevent this passed by 106 votes to 17, and the bill proceeded to Committee Stage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-12-09/62/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Second Stage (Resumed). |date=9 December 1971 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=25 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425031940/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1971-12-09/62/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At Committee Stage, the government accepted a Fine Gael amendment to the final sentence. As initiated, this sentence had begun, "No provision of this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the State '''consequent on''' membership of the Communities […]"; the amendment replaced the words highlighted in bold with the words "'''necessitated by the obligations of'''".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-25/23/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Committee Stage. |date=25 January 1972 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202503/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-25/23/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-26/13/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Committee Stage (Resumed). |date=26 January 1972 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=25 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425033505/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-26/13/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It passed all stages in the Dáil on 26 January 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-26/17/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Report and Final Stages. |date=26 January 1972 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202439/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1972-01-26/17/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It passed all stages in the Seanad on 8 March 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1972-03-08/3/ |title=Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1971: Report and Final Stages. |date=8 March 1972 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424202824/https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1972-03-08/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Views on accession==
As well as parties represented in the Oireachtas, accession was also supported by employers' and farmers' interest groups.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} Then President [[Éamon de Valera]] privately opposed the state's entry and voted 'no', citing the loss of [[sovereignty]].<ref>''Éamon de Valera'', Ronan Fanning, p. 259.</ref>
[[Official Sinn Féin]] (now the Workers Party) opposed the state's entry, citing [[anti-imperialism]] and calling the EC a "rich man's club".<ref name=UIEEC>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jgra94rWmAAC&dq=United+Irishman+EEC&pg=PA353 |title=Official Irish Republicanism: 1962–1972 |author=Sean Swan |date=2008 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781430319344 |access-date=15 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=BT_20160523>{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/after-41-years-of-shifting-battlelines-the-brexit-vote-for-northern-ireland-is-a-very-tough-one-to-call-34736918.html |title=After 41 years of shifting battlelines, the Brexit vote for Northern Ireland is a very tough one to call |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=23 May 2016 |access-date=15 July 2018 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164331/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/after-41-years-of-shifting-battlelines-the-brexit-vote-for-northern-ireland-is-a-very-tough-one-to-call-34736918.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Sinn Féin|Provisional Sinn Féin]] (now Sinn Féin) also opposed the entry, saying it would undermine Irish sovereignty and that the "Common Market Empire would threaten Irish ownership of Irish land".<ref name=BT_20160523/>
==Result==
The Third Amendment was approved with 83.1% in favour to 16.9% against.<ref name=Ref_results>{{cite web |url=http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/referendum_results_1937-2015.pdf |work=[[Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government]] |title=Referendum Results 1937–2015 |page=27 |date=23 August 2016 |access-date=15 April 2018 |archive-date=20 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220195002/http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/referendum_results_1937-2015.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the first amendment to the Constitution to be approved by Irish voters in a referendum.
{{Referendum
|title = Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland referendum
|yes = 1,041,890
|yespct = 83.09
|no = 211,891
|nopct = 16.91
|valid = 1,253,781
|validpct = 99.17
|invalid = 10,497
|invalidpct = 0.83
|total = 1,264,278
|turnoutpct = 70.88
|electorate = 1,783,604
}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Results by constituency<ref name=Ref_results/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | Constituency
! rowspan=2 | Electorate
! rowspan=2 | {{nowrap|Turnout (%)}}
! colspan=2 | Votes
! colspan=2 | Proportion of votes
|-
! Yes
! No
! Yes
! No
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil constituency)|Carlow–Kilkenny]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 59,415
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''36,588'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,278
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cavan (Dáil constituency)|Cavan]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,229
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.3%
| style="text-align: right; | '''24,266'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,178
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''88.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 11.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Clare (Dáil constituency)|Clare]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 39,413
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,833'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,510
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''86.7%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 13.3%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Clare–South Galway (Dáil constituency)|Clare–South Galway]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,820
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,027'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,855
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''88.5%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 11.5%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork City North-West (Dáil constituency)|Cork City North-West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 36,115
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''21,208'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,995
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''84.3%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 15.7%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork City South-East (Dáil constituency)|Cork City South-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 36,476
| style="text-align: right;" | 75.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,887'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,492
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.6%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.4%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork Mid (Dáil constituency)|Cork Mid]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 49,402
| style="text-align: right;" | 77.3%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''31,962'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,050
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''84.1%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 15.9%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork North-East (Dáil constituency)|Cork North-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 50,016
| style="text-align: right;" | 76.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''32,439'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,544
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''85.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 14.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Cork South-West (Dáil constituency)|Cork South-West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 38,285
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.3%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''24,553'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,680
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''87.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 13.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Donegal North-East (Dáil constituency)|Donegal North-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,924
| style="text-align: right;" | 65.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,554'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,030
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''91.7%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 8.3%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Donegal–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)|Donegal–Leitrim]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 38,540
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.8%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,005'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,908
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''84.9%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 15.1%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Central]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 46,775
| style="text-align: right;" | 62.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,289'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,750
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''76.8%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 23.2%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin County North (Dáil constituency)|Dublin County North]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 58,761
| style="text-align: right;" | 68.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''32,004'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 8,125
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''79.8%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 20.2%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin County South (Dáil constituency)|Dublin County South]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 45,289
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''26,838'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,901
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''82.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 18.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin North-Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North-Central]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 49,073
| style="text-align: right;" | 68.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''26,257'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,028
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''78.9%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 21.1%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin North-East (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 55,483
| style="text-align: right;" | 73.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''31,637'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 8,930
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''78.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 22.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin North-West (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North-West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 44,369
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.0%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,494'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,978
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''76.3%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 23.7%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin South-Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin South-Central]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 50,400
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.5%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''25,766'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,955
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''76.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 23.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin South-East (Dáil constituency)|Dublin South-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,840
| style="text-align: right;" | 68.0%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''20,859'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,692
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''81.6%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 18.4%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dublin South-West (Dáil constituency)|Dublin South-West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 41,740
| style="text-align: right;" | 65.5%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''19,893'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,344
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''73.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 27.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown (Dáil constituency)|Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 56,151
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''34,102'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,474
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''84.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Galway North-East (Dáil constituency)|Galway North-East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,358
| style="text-align: right;" | 69.3%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''21,398'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,283
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''90.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 9.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Galway West (Dáil constituency)|Galway West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 35,999
| style="text-align: right;" | 62.0%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''17,400'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,806
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''78.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 21.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Kerry North (Dáil constituency)|Kerry North]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,018
| style="text-align: right;" | 67.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''18,500'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 6,064
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''75.3%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 24.7%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Kerry South (Dáil constituency)|Kerry South]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 36,391
| style="text-align: right;" | 66.9%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''19,237'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,890
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''79.7%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 20.3%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Kildare (Dáil constituency)|Kildare]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 40,065
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.0%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''23,213'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,599
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.5%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.5%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Laois–Offaly (Dáil constituency)|Laois–Offaly]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 56,344
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''35,728'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,823
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''86.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 14.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Limerick East (Dáil constituency)|Limerick East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 47,001
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''25,957'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,280
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''78.1%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 21.9%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Limerick West (Dáil constituency)|Limerick West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 35,904
| style="text-align: right;" | 74.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,971'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,432
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''87.0%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 13.0%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Longford–Westmeath (Dáil constituency)|Longford–Westmeath]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 47,095
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''28,210'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,713
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''85.7%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 14.3%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Louth (Dáil constituency)|Louth]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 40,278
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''24,623'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,187
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''85.5%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 14.5%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Mayo East (Dáil constituency)|Mayo East]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,810
| style="text-align: right;" | 66.9%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''20,691'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,422
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''89.5%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 10.5%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Mayo West (Dáil constituency)|Mayo West]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,106
| style="text-align: right;" | 63.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''19,157'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 2,332
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''89.1%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 10.9%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Meath (Dáil constituency)|Meath]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 39,040
| style="text-align: right;" | 73.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''23,765'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,605
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.8%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.2%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Monaghan (Dáil constituency)|Monaghan]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 36,214
| style="text-align: right;" | 73.8%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''23,179'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,330
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''87.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 12.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Roscommon–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)|Roscommon–Leitrim]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 37,682
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,964'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,375
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''87.2%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 12.8%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Sligo–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)|Sligo–Leitrim]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 38,049
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.4%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,915'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 3,598
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''86.4%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 13.6%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Tipperary North (Dáil constituency)|Tipperary North]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 34,754
| style="text-align: right;" | 76.7%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,147'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,286
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.8%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.2%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Tipperary South (Dáil constituency)|Tipperary South]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 46,127
| style="text-align: right;" | 76.6%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''29,343'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,638
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''83.9%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.1%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Waterford (Dáil constituency)|Waterford]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 39,513
| style="text-align: right;" | 73.9%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''24,086'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 4,964
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''82.9%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 17.1%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Wexford (Dáil constituency)|Wexford]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 49,881
| style="text-align: right;" | 72.2%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''28,635'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 7,105
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''80.1%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 19.9%
|-
| style="background:#c8ffc8;"| [[Wicklow (Dáil constituency)|Wicklow]]
| style="text-align: right;" | 39,389
| style="text-align: right;" | 71.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | '''22,310'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 5,502
| style="text-align: right; background:#c8ffc8;" | '''80.2%'''
| style="text-align: right;" | 19.8%
|- class="sortbottom" style="font-weight:bold; background:rgb(232,232,232);"
| Total
| style="text-align: right;" | 1,783,604
| style="text-align: right;" | 70.9%
| style="text-align: right;" | 1,041,890
| style="text-align: right;" | 211,891
| style="text-align: right;" | 83.1%
| style="text-align: right;" | 16.9%
|}
==Aftermath and later developments==
The [[European Communities Act 1972 (Ireland)|European Communities Act 1972]] was signed into law on 6 December 1972. This provided a legislative basis for the primacy and [[Direct effect of European Union law|direct effect]] of European Community law. On 1 January 1973, Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom [[1973 enlargement of the European Communities|became member states of the European Communities]] (Norway had rejected membership in a [[1972 Norwegian European Communities membership referendum|referendum]]).
Unlike in the United Kingdom where the issue of membership to the European Communities was the subject of fierce political debate for decades which would eventually lead to [[Brexit]] in 2020 after a [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|referendum was held in 2016]] which ended 47 years of British membership in Ireland the outcome of the referendum on the Third Amendment immediately settled the issue of Ireland's place in Europe amongst both the Irish people and its politicians and in the decades that followed Irish support for continued membership would in fact continue to grow.
In ''[[Crotty v. An Taoiseach]]'' (1987), the [[Supreme Court of Ireland]] held that further transfer of power to the European Communities that were not in themselves necessitated by membership of the European Communities (in that instance, approval of the [[Single European Act]]) would require further amendments to the Constitution, and therefore require approval by referendum. Subsequent changes to the Treaties of the European Communities and later of the [[European Union]] have also required amendments to the Constitution, and therefore have required approval by referendum. These amendments have substantially altered the initial wording of 29.4.3° as inserted by the Third Amendment. in particular, the [[Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland]] approved in 2009, allowing the ratification of the [[Treaty of Lisbon]], created a different structure to the subsections in Article 29.4.
In later years the various European organisations (with the exception of EAEC) were integrated by the ratification of subsequent treaties into the European Union.
==See also==
*[[Politics of the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[History of the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[Law of the Republic of Ireland]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1972/en/act/cam/0003/index.html Third Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972]
*[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/en/constitution/index.html Full text of the Constitution of Ireland]
{{Amendments of the Constitution of Ireland}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Third Amendment Of The Constitution Of Ireland}}
[[Category:1972 in international relations]]
[[Category:1972 in Irish law]]
[[Category:1972 in Irish politics]]
[[Category:1972 referendums]]
[[Category:Amendments of the Constitution of Ireland|03]]
[[Category:History of the European Union|Ireland Amendments of the Constitution]]
[[Category:Ireland and the European Union]]
[[Category:Constitutional referendums in the Republic of Ireland|03c]]
[[Category:Referendums related to European Union accession]]
[[Category:May 1972 events in Europe]]
[[Category:1970s elections in Ireland|Amendment, 03]]' |
