Title[a] |
Year |
Type[b] |
Proposer |
Stage reached |
Subject, notes |
Ref.
|
Third |
1941 |
PMB |
Fine Gael |
Second stage (defeated) |
Judges: process for impeachment; make more rigorous by requiring two-thirds majority resolution of each House; extend protection from Supreme Court and High Court to lower-court judges |
[3]
|
Third |
1958 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil |
Referendum (defeated on 17 June 1959) |
Elections to the Dáil: Replace single transferable vote (STV) system with single-member plurality voting (first past the post, FPTP). Also proposed an independent boundary commission for constituencies. The main proposal similar to the 1968 fourth-amendment bill. |
[4][5]
|
Third |
1968 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil |
Referendum (defeated on 16 October 1968) |
Elections to the Dáil: Specified a degree of malapportionment in favour of rural constituencies over urban constituencies. |
[6][5]
|
Fourth |
1968 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil |
Referendum (defeated on 16 October 1968) |
Elections to the Dáil: Replace STV with FPTP for Dáil elections. Similar to main proposal of the 1958 bill. |
[7][5]
|
Fourth[c] |
1972 |
PMB |
Labour |
First stage (defeated) |
Elections: Lower voting age from 21 to 18. Accomplished by the government-sponsored Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972. |
[9]
|
Sixth |
1978 |
PMB |
Labour |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights of children: To facilitate adoptions whose legality had been questioned, and to abolish illegitimacy. The government-sponsored Sixth Amendment passed in 1979 addressed the adoption issue; the Status of Children Act 1987 addressed illegitimacy; the Thirty-first Amendment provided rights for children. |
[10]
|
Eighth |
1980 |
PMB |
Socialist Labour Party |
First stage (defeated) |
Divorce: Permit by deleting Article 41.3.2° and 41.3.3°. Divorce was eventually permitted by the 15th amendment in 1996. |
[11]
|
Eighth (Divorce) |
1982 |
PMB |
Workers' Party |
First stage (lapsed) |
Divorce: Relax ban. This was eventually lifted by the 15th amendment in 1996. |
[12]
|
Eighth (Divorce) |
1983 |
PMB |
Workers' Party |
First stage (defeated) |
Divorce: Relax ban. This was eventually lifted by the 15th amendment in 1996. |
[13]
|
Tenth (Divorce) |
1984 |
PMB |
Workers' Party |
First stage (defeated) |
Divorce: Relax ban. This was eventually lifted by the 15th amendment in 1996. |
[14]
|
Tenth |
1985 |
PMB[d] |
Fine Gael (Michael O'Leary) |
First stage (defeated) |
Divorce: Relax ban. O'Leary was a government backbencher. His move prompted the government to introduce its own bill. |
[15]
|
Tenth (No. 2) |
1985 |
PMB[e] |
Labour |
Second stage (defeated) |
Divorce: Relax ban. Labour's coalition partner Fine Gael opposed the bill; a government-sponsored divorce amendment was rejected at referendum later in 1986. |
[16]
|
Tenth |
1986 |
Government |
Fine Gael–Labour |
Referendum (defeated on 26 June 1986) |
Divorce: Relax ban. This was eventually lifted by the 15th amendment in 1996. |
[17][5]
|
Eleventh |
1990 |
PMB |
Workers' Party |
Second stage (defeated) |
Amend Articles 2 and 3 to weaken the irredentist claim to Northern Ireland. The Nineteenth Amendment in 1999 amended the articles in a similar manner as part of the Northern Ireland peace process. |
[18]
|
Eleventh[f] |
1991 |
PMB |
Fine Gael |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Elections: enable Irish emigrants to elect three members of the Seanad. |
[19][20][21]
|
Eleventh (No. 2) |
1991 |
PMB |
Workers' Party |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Allow abolition of ground rents |
[22][23][24][21]
|
Eleventh (No. 3) |
1991 |
PMB |
Fine Gael |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights of women: affirmatively recognise rights of women in section on equality. |
[25]
|
Eleventh (No. 4) |
1991 |
PMB |
Fine Gael |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Bail laws |
[26]
|
Eleventh[g] |
1992 |
PMB |
Workers' Party |
Second stage (lapsed)[h] |
Abortion: removal of provision inserted by Eighth Amendment |
[29]
|
Eleventh[g] |
1992 |
PMB |
Labour |
Second stage (defeated) |
Abortion: allow freedom to information and travel |
[30]
|
Twelfth |
1992 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats |
Referendum (defeated on 25 November 1992) |
Abortion: Partially reverse the X Case decision by removing risk of suicide as grounds for an abortion. |
[31][5]
|
Fifteenth |
1995 |
PMB |
Fianna Fáil |
Second stage (defeated) |
Restrict right to bail. Accomplished by the government-sponsored Sixteenth Amendment in 1996. |
[32]
|
Seventeenth |
1997 |
PMB |
Progressive Democrats |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Election of President: Allow nominating petitions |
[33]
|
Eighteenth |
1997 |
PMB |
Fine Gael |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Election of President: Allow nominating petitions by 20,000 voters |
[34]
|
Twentieth |
1999 |
PMB |
Democratic Left |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Lower the age of eligibility for TDs from 21 to 18. |
[35]
|
Twenty-first |
1999 |
PMB |
Greens |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Neutrality: Require a referendum before the state could join to join a military alliance |
[36]
|
Twenty-first (No. 2) |
1999 |
PMB |
Greens |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Allowing constitutional amendments by initiative |
[37]
|
Twenty-first (No. 3) |
1999 |
PMB |
Labour |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights: Guarantee economic, social and cultural rights |
[38]
|
Twenty-first (No. 4) |
1999 |
PMB |
Labour |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Rights: Prohibits "unfair discrimination" and permits positive discrimination. |
[39]
|
Twenty-first (No. 5) |
1999 |
PMB |
Labour |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Rights of children, in particular the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child |
[40]
|
Twenty-second |
2001 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats |
Committee stage (lapsed) |
Judges: process for impeachment |
[41]
|
Twenty-fourth |
2001 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats |
Referendum (defeated on 7 June 2001) |
European Union: Ratify the Treaty of Nice. The Twenty-sixth Amendment in 2002 passed referendum and accomplished this. |
[42][5]
|
Twenty-fourth |
2002 |
PMB |
Labour |
First stage (withdrawn) |
Neutrality: amend Article 29 to allow the state to participate in UN operations but not to join any military alliance. Withdrawn when the Twenty-sixth Amendment included an opt-out from the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy. |
[43]
|
Twenty-fifth |
2001 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Neutrality: forbid the state from joining any military alliance |
[44]
|
Twenty-fifth (Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy) |
2001 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats |
Referendum (defeated on 6 March 2002) |
Abortion: Partially reverse the X Case decision by removing risk of suicide as grounds for an abortion, and specify the legal grounds for abortion. |
[45][5]
|
Twenty-seventh |
2003 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Neutrality: affirms neutrality, forbids the state from joining any military alliance; war may only be declared by the Dáil. |
[46]
|
Twenty-seventh (No. 2) |
2003 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights: Guarantee the right to housing |
[47]
|
Twenty-eighth |
2005 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats |
First stage (lapsed) |
European Union: Ratify the proposed Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The government did not proceed with the amendment when the Treaty was abandoned after it was rejected by France and the Netherlands at referendums. |
[48]
|
Twenty-eighth |
2006 |
PMB |
Labour |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Preserve cultural heritage and commit to sustainable development |
[49]
|
Twenty-eighth (No. 2) |
2006 |
PMB |
Greens |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Elections: Lower age of candidacy for Dáil and presidential elections |
[50]
|
Twenty eighth (No. 3) |
2006 |
PMB |
Greens |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Presidency: ease ballot access by reducing the qualifying number of Oireachtas members and allowing nominating petitions; reduce the term from seven to five years; mandate annual address to the Oireachtas; mandate meetings of the Council of State |
[51]
|
Twenty-eighth |
2007 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Rights of children, insertion of a new article. The 2012 31st amendment covers similar ground. |
[52]
|
Twenty-eighth |
2008 |
Government |
Fianna Fáil–Greens–Progressive Democrats |
Referendum (defeated on 12 June 2008) |
European Union: Ratify the Treaty of Lisbon. This was achieved with the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland which passed in a referendum the following year. |
[53][5]
|
Twenty-ninth |
2008 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Rights relating to trade unions |
[54]
|
Twenty-ninth |
2009 |
PMB |
Fine Gael |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Judges: Ease the restriction on reducing judges' pay. This was achieved by the Twenty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland which was passed in a referendum in 2011. |
[55]
|
Twenty-ninth |
2011 |
PMB[i] |
Greens |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Defines "economic treason". |
[56]
|
Twenty-ninth (No.2) |
2011 |
PMB |
Fianna Fáil |
Second stage (defeated) |
Allow only individual voters to make political donations. |
[57]
|
Twenty-ninth (No.3) |
2011 |
PMB |
Fianna Fáil |
Second stage (defeated) |
Allow for the adoption of any child. Achieved by the Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland passed by referendum in 2012 |
[58]
|
Thirtieth (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) |
2011 |
Government |
Fine Gael–Labour |
Referendum (defeated on 27 October 2011) |
Oireachtas: overturn the 2002 John Carthy verdict limiting the power of Oireachtas inquiries. |
[59][5]
|
Thirty-first (The President) |
2011 |
PMB |
Technical group (Catherine Murphy) |
Second stage (defeated) |
Presidency: ease ballot access by reducing the qualifying number of Oireachtas members and allowing nominating petitions; remove reference to "proportional representation"; reduce the term from seven to five years |
[60]
|
Thirty-first (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) |
2012 |
PMB[d] |
Labour (Kevin Humphreys) |
Second stage (lapsed)[j] |
Rights: Guarantee economic, social and cultural rights |
[61]
|
Thirty-second (Dáil Éireann) |
2012 |
PMB[d] |
Fine Gael (Brendan Griffin) |
Second stage (lapsed)[j] |
Dáil Éireann: to comprise 100 single-member constituencies by instant-runoff voting (plus the Ceann Comhairle) |
[62]
|
Thirty-second (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) |
2013 |
Government |
Fine Gael–Labour |
Referendum (defeated on 4 October 2013) |
Oireachtas: Abolish Seanad Éireann. |
[63][5]
|
Thirty-fourth (Judicial Appointments) |
2013 |
PMB |
Technical group (Shane Ross) |
Second stage (defeated) |
Judges: establish a non-political body to nominate judges, subject to Oireachtas ratification |
[64]
|
Thirty-fourth (Neutrality) |
2013 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Neutrality: declaration of neutrality and forbidding the state from joining any military alliance |
[65]
|
Thirty-fourth (No. 3) |
2014 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights: Guarantee right to water; and Public ownership mandated for the Irish water supply |
[66]
|
Thirty-fourth (Right to Personal Autonomy and Bodily Integrity) |
2014 |
PMB |
Technical group (Clare Daly) |
Second stage (defeated) |
Abortion: repeal the Eighth Amendment, and guarantee rights to personal autonomy and bodily integrity |
[67]
|
Thirty-fourth (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) |
2014 |
PMB |
Technical group (Peter Mathews) |
Second stage (defeated) |
Oireachtas: loosen the party whip system |
[68]
|
Thirty-fourth (Peace and Neutrality) |
2014 |
PMB |
Technical group (Mick Wallace) |
Second stage (defeated) |
Neutrality: Adhere to Section V of the Hague Convention of 1907 |
[69]
|
Thirty-fourth |
2014 |
PMB |
Technical group (Socialist Party) |
Second stage (defeated) |
Abortion: repeal the Eighth Amendment |
[70]
|
Thirty-fourth (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) |
2014 |
PMB |
Technical Group (Thomas Pringle) |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights: Guarantee economic, social and cultural rights[71]
|
Thirty-fifth (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) |
2015 |
Government |
Fine Gael–Labour |
Referendum (defeated on 22 May 2015) |
Presidency: reduce age of candidacy from 35 to 21 |
[72][5]
|
Thirty-fourth (Voting Rights in Referenda) |
2014 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (lapsed)[j] |
Election of President: allow emigrants to vote |
[74]
|
Thirty-fourth (No. 2) |
2014 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Committee stage (lapsed)[j] |
Elections: Lower voting age from 18 to 16. |
[75]
|
Thirty-fourth (Dáil Éireann) |
2015 |
PMB[d] |
Fine Gael (Brendan Griffin) |
Second stage (lapsed)[j] |
Dáil Éireann: to comprise 158 single-member constituencies; eliminate single transferable vote requirement |
[76]
|
Thirty-fifth (Fixed Period for the Duration of Dáil Éireann) |
2015 |
PMB |
Technical group (Shane Ross) |
Second stage (lapsed)[j] |
Dáil Éireann: fixed term of five years |
[77]
|
Thirty-fifth (Repeal of the Eighth Amendment) |
2016 |
PMB |
AAA–PBP |
Second stage (defeated) |
Abortion: repeal the Eighth Amendment, which guarantees the "right to life of the unborn". A motion was passed rejecting the bill, to allow the Citizens' Assembly to consider the issue. |
[78]
|
Thirty-fifth (Neutrality) |
2016 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Neutrality: prohibit assisting foreign preparations for war without the consent of the Dáil, and prohibit joining any military alliance. A motion was passed rejecting the bill "to protect the authority of the Executive to conduct external relations" and affirming existing neutrality provisions and policies. |
[79]
|
Thirty-fifth (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) |
2016 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights: Guarantee economic, social and cultural rights |
[80]
|
Thirty-fifth (Right to Housing) |
2017 |
PMB |
Solidarity–PBP |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights: Guarantee the right to housing |
[81]
|
Thirty-eighth (Neutrality) |
2018 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Neutrality: prohibit involvement in any war unless "immediately necessary in defence of the State". |
[82]
|
Thirty-fifth (Right to a Home) |
2016 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights: Guarantee the right to housing |
[83]
|
Thirty-fifth (Common Ownership of Water Resources) |
2016 |
PMB |
Greens |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Public ownership mandated for the Irish water supply |
[84]
|
Thirty-fifth (Public Ownership of Certain Assets) |
2016 |
PMB |
Labour (Willie Penrose) |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Public ownership mandated for the Irish water supply, gas network, and electricity grid |
[85]
|
Thirty-fifth (Protection of Pension Property Rights) |
2017 |
PMB |
Fianna Fáil (Willie O'Dea) |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Prohibit taxing of private pension savings (such as had been done from 2011 to 2016 during the post-2008 austerity).
|
[86]
|
Thirty-fifth (Blasphemy) |
2017 |
PMB |
Social Democrats |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Religion: remove the constitution's requirement to criminalise blasphemy. Effected by the 37th amendment in 2018 |
[87]
|
Thirty-fifth (Separation of Church and State) |
2017 |
PMB |
Solidarity–PBP |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Religion: mandate separation of church and state |
[88]
|
Thirty-ninth (Right to Housing) |
2019 |
PMB |
Independent (Tommy Broughan) |
Second stage (lapsed) |
Rights: Guarantee the right to housing |
[89]
|
Thirty-Ninth (Right to Health) |
2019 |
PMB |
Rural Independents (Michael Harty) |
Second stage (defeated) |
Rights: Guarantee the right to health |
[90]
|
Thirty-fourth (Inclusive Budget Reform) |
2014 |
PMB |
Sinn Féin |
Second stage (defeated) |
Repeal the requirement that measures incurring public spending can only be proposed by the government |
[91]
|
Thirty-Ninth (Neutrality) |
2022 |
PMB |
Solidarity–PBP |
Second stage (defeated) |
Neutrality: "non-membership of military alliances" and no transit to warzones of foreign "material or personnel" |
[92]
|
Thirty-ninth (The Family) |
2023 |
Government |
Fine Gael–Fianna Fáil–Green |
Referendum (defeated on 8 March 2024) |
Family: extend protection to non-marital families |
[93][94]
|
Fortieth (Care) |
2023 |
Government |
Fine Gael–Fianna Fáil–Green |
Referendum (defeated on 8 March 2024) |
Family: replace reference to "woman['s] ... duties in the home" with reference to "the provision of care, by members of a family to one another" |
[95][96]
|