Two referendum votes will be held on 8 March, International Women’s Day, in which voters will be asked whether they want to amend the wording of the Constitution.
In one, people will be asked to vote on changing the constitutional definition of the family.
The Family Amendment
Currently, the Constitution affirms that “The State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society.”
It also says, “The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack.”
The proposed amendment would see the first line changed to read “the State recognises the Family, whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships, as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society.”
In the second line, the amendment would also see the words “on which the Family is founded” removed.
The Care Amendment
In the second referendum, people will be asked whether they wish to delete two lines in the Constitution, and add a new one.
The Constitution currently affirms “the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.”
And that “The State shall… endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.”
The amendment proposes to delete both those lines. If supported, a new piece of text would be added saying “The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision.”
As part of The Conversation from RTÉ’s Upfront with Katie Hannon, we asked two people to join our WhatsApp group to discuss why they believe people should vote for or against the proposed changes.
Karen Kiernan is chief executive of One Family, Ireland’s organisation for one-parent families. She says all families should have the same rights and benefits, regardless of their marital status.
Senator Rónán Mullen believes these changes are a step in the wrong direction.
