[3] For those born after 1937, the Constitution stated that the "future acquisition and loss of Irish nationality and citizenship shall be determined in accordance with law".

[5] The Minister for Justice at the time Michael McDowell said that between 40% and 50% of non-EU nationals who give birth in Ireland were doing so to gain Irish citizenship for their children.

It was also supported by Fine Gael (the largest opposition party) but they refused to campaign due to what they complained was insufficient consultation before the poll.

The amendment was opposed by the Labour Party,[8] the Green Party,[8] and Sinn Féin,[8] as well as the Irish Human Rights Commission, a statutory body, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, a civil society non-profit organisation.

The government presented the amendment as a common sense proposal that would close a constitutional loop-hole and allow Irish law to be brought into line with the rest of Europe.

Although most Irish referendums count votes per Dáil constituency, this one was organised by city/county council area, the basis for the local elections being held simultaneously.

On 29 September the government published a bill to amend nationality law within the scope of the revised constitutional parameters.