Sinn Féin has said it would re-run the care referendum, with stronger wording, if the amendment is rejected and the party is in Government.
The party has launched its campaign for two Yes votes in the family and care referendums taking place on 8 March.
But its decision to support the care amendment followed “detailed deliberation” because the party believes it does not go far enough.
The amendment proposes to remove the reference to woman’s life in the home and replace it with a recognition of care by members of a family to one another.
Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, said the proposed amendment would be a “positive step forward” but that it’s “not the comprehensive, copper-fastened recognition of care” that is needed.
“So yes, we had to weigh that up. In the end we decided not to allow the perfect be the enemy of the good,” she said.
She said carers are divided on the question. Many believe “this should be grasped as a positive if imperfect step forward”.
“But I have spoken to others who are angered at the Government’s track record on these matters and see this as little more than lip service,” she said.
Ms McDonald said that if the referendum was rejected, it would be her ambition to put the question to the people again “early in our term” if the party was elected to Government.
She said the party would be returning to the recommendation from the Citizen’s Assembly which would include care not just at home, but in wider society.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups calling for a Yes vote said they do not believe their campaign will be damaged by the interventions of independent human rights groups who have voiced concerns around the proposed wording on care.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said it welcomes the referendum widening the definition of the family beyond just those based on marriage. But on the care referendum, it said the Government should have gone further.
“Based on our analysis, ICCL believes that the proposed text on ‘care’ will not provide meaningful legal protections to any person who gives or receives care.
“Overall, we feel the Government should have gone further to implement the recommendation of the Citizen’s Assembly and the Oireachtas Committee. This would have represented a more legally impactful proposal.”
It follows on from similar criticism from the Free Legal Advice Center (FLAC) which said yesterday that the proposed amendment on care is ineffective and implicitly sexist.
But Family Carers Ireland, a charity which supports around 500,000 family carers across the country, said it does not believe these interventions will cause damage to the campaigns.
Its Head of Policy, Catherine Cox, said there are many legal opinions and that is the nature of a debate.
“For the first time ever, this will introduce a shared responsibility for care in Ireland. “Yes, the primary responsibility will lie with the family carer. But the State is saying for the first time that they will resource and support that care.”
