November 1992 Irish constitutional referendums
Three referendums were held simultaneously in Ireland on 25 November 1992, each on a proposed amendment of the Irish constitution. They were enumerated as the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth amendments.
The proposed twelfth and thirteenth amendments were held to reverse differing elements of the Supreme Court's decision in the X case in which the Supreme Court held that a risk of suicide by a pregnant woman could constitute a risk to her health which would justify an abortion, and that the courts had to power to grant an injunction preventing a pregnant woman from travelling abroad for an abortion. The fourteenth amendment also related to abortion and was introduced to reverse decision by the courts in the abortion information cases. In these cases — beginning with Attorney-General (Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child) v Open Door Counselling Ltd.[1] — the courts had granted injunctions preventing individuals from distributing contact information for foreign abortion clinics.
The proposed twelfth amendment was rejected by the electorate while both the thirteenth and fourteenth passed.
Twelfth amendment[]
The Twelfth Amendment proposed that the possibility of suicide was not a sufficient threat to justify an abortion. The wording of the proposed amendment was:
It shall be unlawful to terminate the life of an unborn unless such termination is necessary to save the life, as distinct from the health, of the mother where there is an illness or disorder of the mother giving rise to a real and substantial risk to her life, not being a risk of self-destruction.[2]
The proposal was rejected.
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
![]() |
1,079,297 | 65.35 |
Yes | 572,177 | 34.65 |
Valid votes | 1,651,474 | 95.28 |
Invalid or blank votes | 81,835 | 4.72 |
Total votes | 1,733,309 | 100.00 |
Registered voters and turnout | 2,542,841 | 68.16 |
Thirteenth amendment[]
The Thirteenth Amendment specifies that the prohibition of abortion would not limit freedom of travel from Ireland to other countries where a person might legally obtain an abortion. The wording of the proposed amendment was:
This subsection shall not limit freedom to travel between the State and another state.[2]
The proposal was approved.
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
![]() |
1,035,308 | 62.39 |
No | 624,059 | 37.61 |
Valid votes | 1,659,367 | 95.71 |
Invalid or blank votes | 74,454 | 4.29 |
Total votes | 1,733,821 | 100.00 |
Registered voters and turnout | 2,542,841 | 68.18 |
Fourteenth amendment[]
The Fourteenth Amendment specifies that Irish citizens have the freedom to pursue and learn about abortion services in other countries. The wording of the proposed amendment was:
This subsection shall not limit freedom to obtain or make available, in the State, subject to such conditions as may be laid down by law, information relating to services lawfully available in another state.[2]
The proposal was approved.
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
![]() |
992,833 | 59.88 |
No | 665,106 | 40.12 |
Valid votes | 1,657,939 | 95.70 |
Invalid or blank votes | 74,494 | 4.30 |
Total votes | 1,732,433 | 100.00 |
Registered voters and turnout | 2,542,841 | 68.13 |
See also[]
- Constitutional amendment
- Politics of the Republic of Ireland
- History of the Republic of Ireland
- X Case
- Abortion in the Republic of Ireland
References[]
- ^ [1988] IR 593.
- ^ a b c Cacciaguidi-Fahy, Sophie (2005). "The substantive Issue and the Rhetoric of the Abortion Debate in Ireland". In Wagner, Anne; Summerfield, Tracey; Benavides Vanegas, Farid Samir (eds.). Contemporary Issues of the Semiotics of Law. Oxford: Hart Publishing. p. 154. ISBN 1841135453. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ a b c "Referendum Results" (PDF). Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- 1992 in Irish law
- 1992 in Irish politics
- 1992 referendums
- Constitutional referendums in the Republic of Ireland
- November 1992 events in Europe
- 1990s elections in Ireland