On Thursday May the 31st 2012, Irish voters go to the polls to vote in a referendum which would change the nations constitution, if passed, to allow subsequent Irish governments and the EU apply the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union (aka the Fiscal Compact, the European Fiscal Union or the Fiscal Stability Treaty). If passed, Ireland will be bound by any proposed and future sections of that treaty, and if anything within the treaty comes into conflict with our constitution, our constitution will be invalidated in favour of the EU treaty. Please VOTE NO!

• balanced annual national budgets, or budgets in surplus
• overall national debts below 60% of GDP
• fines for nations which have annual budget deficits (nations can report other nations)
• speeding up the process of introducing the ESM bailout facility
• governments to approve annual budgets with EU civil servants before national parliaments
• ratification when 12 out of 17 Eurozone nations approve it, no country can block it
read a simple guide to the Fiscal Stability/Compact Treaty here>

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION:

EU Fiscal Compact/Stability Treaty - EU LEGISLATION
The EU treaty which we are voting for/against in the May 31st referendum.

13th Amendment to the Constitution - IRISH LEGISLATION
Constitutional change to allow the treaty to exist, if we vote yes in the referendum.

European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Treaty - EU LEGISLATION
This is the EU treaty which provides the bailout facility which we hear so much about.

European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Bill - IRISH LEGISLATION
Irish legislation which has been drafted to facilitate Ireland becoming part of the ESM, and will be passed by FG/Labour, if the Fiscal Stability treaty is passed in the May 31st referendum.

Amendment to Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - EU LEGISLATION
This will allow for the ESM to be legally part of the overall EU apparatus.