Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland

Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland

10 November 2012 (2012-11-10)
Relating to children's rights
Results
Choice
Votes  %
Yes 615,731 58.00%
No 445,863 42.00%
Valid votes 1,061,594 99.56%
Invalid or blank votes 4,645 0.44%
Total votes 1,066,239 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 3,183,686 33.49%

The Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Act 2012 (previously bill no. 78 of 2012) amended the Constitution of Ireland by inserting clauses relating to children's rights and the right and duty of the state to take child protection measures. It was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas (parliament) on 10 October 2012, and approved at a referendum on 10 November 2012, by 58% of voters on a turnout of 33.5%. Its enactment was delayed by a High Court case challenging the conduct of the referendum. The High Court's rejection of the challenge was confirmed by the Supreme Court on 24 April 2015. It was signed into law by the President on 28 April 2015.