Polling at the referendum took place on Friday, 11 June 1999. 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 the official polling card sent to each elector:
‘THE TWENTIETH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION (No. 2) BILL,
1999, proposes to insert the following Article after Article 28 of the Constitution:
“LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Article 28A
1. The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for
the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and
performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in
promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities.
2. There shall be such directly elected local authorities as may be
determined by law and their powers and functions shall, subject to the
provisions of this Constitution, be so determined and shall be exercised
and performed in accordance with law.
3. Elections for members of such local authorities shall be held in
accordance with law not later than the end of the fifth year after the year in
which they were last held.
4. Every citizen who has the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil
Éireann and such other persons as may be determined by law shall have
the right to vote at an election for members of such of the local authorities
referred to in section 2 of this Article as shall be determined by law.
5. Casual vacancies in the membership of local authorities referred to in
section 2 of this Article shall be filled in accordance with law.”.’
