The most radical package of constitutional change since 1937 will be put to the people in a month following the Government's decision to hold referendums on the Northern Ireland Agreement and the Amsterdam Treaty on the same day.
Despite earlier indications from Ministers that the two polls would be separated, the Cabinet yesterday agreed May 22nd should be the voting date in both referendums - the same day as voting in Northern Ireland on the Stormont agreement.
It is understood Government anxieties to secure a high turnout for the Amsterdam Treaty, and to get the issue disposed of before the summer recess, were the main motivations behind the decision to hold the referendums on the same day.
A Government spokesman insisted the two issues were related. The Amsterdam Treaty involved closer links within the European Union while the Northern Ireland Agreement was aimed at closer links within the island and between Ireland and Britain, he said.
Fine Gael and Labour welcomed the decision, while Democratic Left said it would have preferred separate polling days. The Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, angrily denounced the move, saying it was "grossly unfair to the people of Ireland and an insult to the democratic process".
The State's 2.6 million voters will be provided with two separate ballot papers, one white and entitled "British-Irish Agreement". The ballot paper will pose a single question: "Do you agree with the proposals in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution Bill?"
This legislation was published last night to pave the way for the referendum on the Northern Ireland Agreement. It will pass all stages of the Oireachtas by tomorrow night.
The second ballot paper, green, will be entitled "Amsterdam Treaty". It will ask the voter: "Do you agree with the proposals in the 18th Amendment to the Constitution Bill?"
Voters will receive, along with the polling cards posted in advance to their homes, an explanation of each referendum.
A separate Referendum Commission is expected to be quickly established to deal with the dissemination of information on the Northern Ireland Agreement and a Government spokesman last night confirmed £3 million has been allocated to this.
The former Chief Justice, Mr Justice Thomas Finlay, is already chairing the Referendum Commission to deal with the Amsterdam Treaty and he has a similar budget.
The Attorney General, Mr David Byrne, advised the Government yesterday it is legally possible to include the amendments relating to the agreement in one single question to the people on polling day. The proposal before the voter will include the amendments to Articles 2, 3 and 29 of the Constitution.
Following the Cabinet meeting, a Government spokesman said it was "always intended" to ask just one question.
A total of 11 hours has been designated today and tomorrow for a Dail debate on the legislation to facilitate the referendum on the agreement. Opposition parties have agreed to forfeit Private Members' business and Ministerial Question Time today to accommodate the rapid passage of the legislation. The Bill will also be debated over five hours in the Seanad tomorrow night.