Minister Catherine Martin corrected in X’s Community Notes on referendum claim

Minister Catherine Martin has been corrected in X’s Community Notes for her assertion that the Irish Constitution says that a woman’s place is in the home. The correction points out that Supreme Court Judge Marie Baker, Chair of the Electoral Commission, has clarified that the Constitution makes no such statement.

It's not reflective of today's society for our constitution to say that a woman’s place is in the home.

Diverse families deserve equal recognition in our constitution.

A yes-yes vote in both referendums will help create a more equal & inclusive society in Ireland #VoteYesYes https://t.co/c8wb0x3q6c

— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) February 9, 2024

The Culture Minister had posted on X calling for a YesYes vote in the upcoming March 8th referendums on family and care. She said “it’s not reflective of today’s society for our constitution to say that a woman’s place is in the home.”

However, as pointed out in the Community Notes this claim had been corrected by the Chair of the Electoral Commission Marie Baker – and Supreme Court judge – who spelt out that the case law of the Supreme Court had clarified that the Constitution did not say a woman’s place is in the home.

Justice Baker clarified that the Constitution says that mothers provide an “important support” to society and shouldn’t “have to go out to work” due to “economic necessity.”

Supreme Court Judge and Chair of the Electoral Commission, Marie Baker, clarifies the Constitution does not say "a woman's place is in the home," but merely that mothers provide an "important support" to society and shouldn't "have to go out to work" due to "economic necessity." pic.twitter.com/DNpmnWraZ1

— gript (@griptmedia) January 26, 2024

The incorrect claim had been made by Yes campaigners such as the National Women’s Council of Ireland and by Minister Roderic O’Gorman after the referendums had been announced, but they have not publicly sought to correct their error, despite concerns around misinformation in the referendum being raised repeatedly.

Last month, Elon Musk told Gript’s Ben Scallan that the Community Notes function on X meant that users could add clarifying responses to contentious tweets in a way that did not happen in newspapers.

“Who is deciding what is misinformation and disinformation?” he asked. “The point is to have an open and clear debate – and if something is misinformation or disinformation, to provide a rebuttal, that’s the best way, in open debate.”

There was a strong reaction on X to the correction of the Minister’s claim.

“The Constitution does NOT, repeat NOT, say that ‘a woman’s place is in the home.’ Try reading the article you are so eager to delete,” wrote Prof Ger Casey.

Others described the claim as “disinformation”, while several posts pointed to the fact that Minister Martin had last year set up a group tasked with fighting misinformation and disinformation and charged with developing a National Counter Disinformation Strategy to combat false information.

“The constitution doesn’t say a women’s place is “in the home” It defines & recognises the value of mothers rearing children in the context of the value that provides to the continued well-being of the state. Honestly cannot think of any benevolent reason to campaign to remove it,” said one commentator.

Another tagged the Electoral Commission, saying “please investigate the spreading of misinformation by govt ministers. It is in direct contradiction to Justice Baker’s clarification. Art 41.2 does not say a woman’s place is in the home!”

The Green Party says the party “is equally determined to eliminate out-dated language from the Constitution and remove the idea that women should be limited to specific fields or that they ‘belong’ in certain areas. The party is supporting a Yes vote to ensure people who care for family members get full recognition of the important work they perform and the benefit society receives from it.”