The referendum was held the same day as the local and European Parliament elections.

Insertion of a new Article: Article 28A The Amendment was sponsored by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and was proposed in the Dáil on 11 May 1999 by Minister of State Dan Wallace on behalf of the Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition government led by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Their opposition was to elements of the drafting rather than the principle of constitutional recognition of local government.

[2] It passed final stages in the Seanad on the same day, and proceeded to a referendum on 11 June 1999.

[3] A Referendum Commission was established by Minister for the Environment and Local Government Noel Dempsey.