Lisbon Treaty - Irish constitution

master-d

Probably a question that has been asked before but I cant find it.

Could somebody please tell me what change(s) have to be made to the Irish constitution in order for the Lisbon treaty to be ratified? (With a reference please)

I understand the consequences of the ratification of the treaty, but am unsure why the constitution must be amended.

PopeBuckfastXVI

master-d wrote: »

Probably a question that has been asked before but I cant find it.

Could somebody please tell me what change(s) have to be made to the Irish constitution in order for the Lisbon treaty to be ratified? (With a reference please)

I understand the consequences of the ratification of the treaty, but am unsure why the constitution must be amended.

You can read the text here:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2008/1408/b14a08d.pdf
(needs adobe acrobat)

You can read the current constitution here, for comparison:
http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/upload/static/256.htm

The reason we need to alter the constitution is that in the Supreme Court case of Crotty versus An Taoiseach the Supreme Court ruled that any transfer of sovereignty from the Irish People to the EU must be subject to ratification by the people in a referendum, because the Government doesn't have the authority to do it themselves.

You can read about that case here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotty_v._An_Taoiseach