Yes or No votes? Here’s a guide to help you decide
‘Family’ and ‘Care’ referendums in 10 days
THERE’S just 10 days to go until referendum day on March 8.Yet
– with the countdown on – lots say they still don’t know what we’re being asked to vote on.
A recent survey found more than half of voters know hardly anything at all about the issues up for change.
So here’s The Mirror’s guide to what it’s all about.
We are being asked to vote on two referendums proposing to change the Constitution of Ireland.
This is the fundamental legal document that sets out how Ireland should be governed and the rights of its citizens.
It can only be amended solely by a national public ballot.
The two changes recommended by Government both involve Article 41 and are being simplified as the “family” amendment and the “care amendment”.
The family amendment is about extending the definition of family in the Constitution beyond being based on marriage – including, for example, the growing number of single parents. This will be on a white paper in the polling booth.
And the care amendment is about the concept of women’s place in society as being beyond the home. This will be on a green paper.
OUTDATED
They both came about as they were seen as outdated by equality campaigners. A Citizen’s Assembly on gender equality that said it should be put to the people and this was backed by a special joint committee.
The date was set for March 8 – International Women’s Day – as a symbolic gesture, considering the two votes are particularly important to their lives.
The first vote – family – proposes to extend the constitutional protection given to families to cover both families based on marriage, and those based on what is being termed “durable relationships”.
That could include a couple living together – with or without children – who have chosen not to marry.
This change specifically involves inserting additional text to Article 41.1.1 as well as deleting of text in Article 41.3.1.
What would be deleted in the case of a Yes vote is this: “The state pledges to guard with special care the institution of marriage on which the family is founded.”
What would be added is: “The state recognises family – whether founded on marriage or other durable relationships – as the national primary and fundamental rights group of society and as a moral institution.” Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said repurposing the wording acknowledges families may also be founded on lasting relationships other than marriage.
The change in the “care” amendment – which is being dubbed the “woman in the home” vote – involves deleting an entire clause and replacing it with a new one.
The clause – Article 41.2 currently states: “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.
“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.”
In the case of a Yes vote, its replacement – 42B – would read: “The state recognises that the provision of care by members of a family to one another by the reason of bonds that exist among them give to society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved and the state shall strive to support such position.”
While most political parties are calling for a Yes vote, a number of high profile Independents – such as Michael Mcdowell – have called for a No vote.
Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Social Democrats and Labour have all called for Yes.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the proposed changes will “reflect the values of inclusive and compassionate and reflect the reality of a more diverse model that makes up society today.”
Aontu said it will take a No stance and Catholic Bishops said “durable relationship” was open to legal uncertainty.
Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC), Equality Not Care and senator Tom Clonan have said they do not support the change in the “care” referendum. Critics say it compromises those with disabilities.