“A landslide No” and a “walloping”. The Irish people look to have strongly and decisively rejected both proposals put forward by the government to amend the Constitution to change provisions relating to the family based on marriage and the value of work done by mothers at home.
Senator Sharon Keogan, one of a handful of independent Senators and TDs who had campaigned for a NoNo vote, described the result as a “landslide” – and said the people of Ireland had given the government and opposition a “walloping”.
The people of Ireland have spoken and given this government and the parties in opposition a walloping.
Women do not want to be reduced to non-gender language.
I, for one, did not view the erasure of the words 'woman or mother' as something worthy of being progressed. Thankfully… pic.twitter.com/bT41cc9IEI— Senator Sharon Keogan (@SenatorKeogan) March 9, 2024
Speaking at the RDS, Senator Michael McDowell said that the government had misjudged the mood of the electorate and put before them proposals which could have serious consequences.
'The Government misjudged the mood of the electorate,' according to Senator Michael McDowell, as tallies from across the country show referendums on the issue of Family and Care look set to be comprehensively defeated | Follow live updates: https://t.co/7ac7kS3wlr pic.twitter.com/76c3GimtO6
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 9, 2024
Early tallies showed massive No votes in some areas, with Cherry Orchard in Dublin recording at 95% NO in the Care referendum one box, while in Birr in Co Offaly the tallies suggested a 80% No earlier today, though those are not the final numbers.
Early tallies in the referendum indicate a massive 'No' victory, with some areas indicating a 'No' vote of over 75%. @Ben_Scallan reports from Dublin Castle: pic.twitter.com/PDJxBDGQtJ
— gript (@griptmedia) March 9, 2024
Tallies coming on from around the country suggest that the final count will show this to be amongst the most decisive referendum losses in the history of the state.
Here in the Waterford count centre covering Waterford City and County, 148 of the c.171 boxes are opened and I think… hesitantly think… it is a no and no. Landslide, absolute landslide no in many boxes. Across all demographics.
— Colette Colfer (@ColetteColfer) March 9, 2024
Both the government and most of the opposition, including Sinn Féin, are scrambling to explain why the electorate rejected the proposals in such huge numbers – but their claim that it was because of voter confusion has been met with sharp criticism.
Labour Party Leadar Ivana Bacik just now at Dublin Castle:
"The reality is most people did want to see a change in Article 41, but what they were unhappy with was the text of the amendment."#Referendum2024 pic.twitter.com/WOw01nXMfc
— Ben Scallan 🇮🇪 (@Ben_Scallan) March 9, 2024
My initial thoughts on the referendum, with added anger and amusement because I watched 10 minutes of RTE.
Short version: Claims that the public "didn't understand" are insulting bullshit from a political class that's deeply out of touch:https://t.co/23cHnU2fRa
— John McGuirk (@john_mcguirk) March 9, 2024
It looks like @sinnfeinireland who went missing in the referendum have spectacularly missed the mood of the country especially in working class areas. In conjunction with their similar disconnect on immigration, they are the party of No Change. That’s an odd strategy to go with…
— Keith Redmond (@ExCllrRedmond) March 9, 2024
Areas such as Dublin Central where all TDs, including opposition Sinn Féin, called for a YesYes vote, look set to reject the proposals decisively, as did most constituencies across the country.
Never been so proud of my fellow voters in Dublin Central, where every single TD (including @MaryLouMcDonald and @Paschald) was in the Yes and Yes camp.#Referendum2024 pic.twitter.com/GA2iya7x0c
— Keith Mills (@KeithMillsD7) March 9, 2024
On X, women said that the proposals – billed by the government as a progressive measure – were defeated because they had sought to “erase women”, and devalue the work of women in the home. Grassroots campaigns said were delighted with the outcome.
Whatever happens today, we want to thank everyone for supporting our #VoteNoNo campaign the last 8 weeks, we especially want to thank our incredible canvassers who spent every weekend out there speaking to people and informing them about the referendums. This was a grassroots… pic.twitter.com/QlikCT5eMo
— The Countess (@TheCountessIE) March 9, 2024
The Natural Women's Council, LFJI, Irish Education Alliance and Parents Rights Alliance extend our heartfelt gratitude to the people of Ireland for playing a fundamental role in our grassroots #VoteNoNo campaign. Power of the people is stronger than the people in power! pic.twitter.com/ex9W1Ivd8p
— Founder, Natural Women’s Council (@Jklunden) March 9, 2024
What a wonderful day for women, mothers and family❤️💕❤️💕 #VoteNoNoRef24 #MothersDay pic.twitter.com/W62skHLkP3
— Nurses & Midwives 4Life Ireland (@Nurses4lifeIrl) March 9, 2024
There was also widespread anger at taxpayer-funded bodies, such as the National Women’s Council of Ireland for their YesYes stance – with commentators saying that they felt it was now clear they do not represent women.
No. And they never will. But at least now it’s clear. They don’t represent women, they represent nothing, a government puppet, a woke talking shop, and a BETRAYAL of the women of Ireland. https://t.co/zC76J8ec9W
— Sarah Ryan (@sarahcatryan) March 9, 2024
The NGO sector? Every one of these 👇 should be audited, and what funding they get and where it’s being spent should be made public. pic.twitter.com/jMIkpqJQtN
— Rory Cowan (@1rorycowan) March 9, 2024
With immigration, taxation, inheritance, family structure and women’s rights under discussion in the debate, the stunning scale of the loss will be seen as a significant setback for the government and may be viewed as a vote against the establishment.
When you consider the No No campaign had
1) No money
2) Very little media support
3) practically no balanced debate
4) Only a handful of politicians onside!This is looking like a landslide victory for us, well done to each and every person who had the courage to speak up!
— Elaine Mullally ☘️ (@_mullally_el_) March 9, 2024
Peadar Tóibín of Aontú called for a no confidence vote in Minister Roderic O’Gorman, claiming that he had “misled” voters ahead of the March 8th referenda.
Aontú's Peadar Toibín says the projected defeat of the Yes campaign in #Referendum2024 is a rejection of the Government, & that the referendum was about politicians "virtue signalling."
He also called for a no confidence vote in Roderic O'Gorman, saying he "misled" the public. pic.twitter.com/d8XdYPd38z
— gript (@griptmedia) March 9, 2024
Other smaller parties such as the Irish Freedom Party also welcomed the NO NO vote.
A great day for the Irish people and #Irishfreedom. The entire political establishment engulfed with groupthink supported YES/YES. We have given them a beating today that they will never forget. #NONO #Referendum2024 pic.twitter.com/kuBYExW64P
— Irish Freedom Party (@IrexitFreedom) March 9, 2024
Eamon Ryan of the Green Party said that if it was a No vote, that was the voice of the people, and the people were sovereign, and the vote would have to be respected.
'We will have to wait until the final count has been done, but if it is a No vote in both we will have to respect that,' Minister Eamon Ryan has said | Follow live updates https://t.co/7ac7kS3wlr pic.twitter.com/xFn1qaytpp
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 9, 2024
Senator Rónán Mullen, who campaigned for a NoNo Vote said “today’s resounding reaffirmation of family life, marriage and the role of mothers, and the rejection of NGO-sponsored groupthink means the Government should press the pause button on its culture war policies”, including its “controversial hate speech legislation”.