The Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has said that a “Yes” vote in the referendum on care will “strengthen” her hand when it “comes to enhancing and improving the supports for care in the future”.
She said that it would also assist Ministers in the future, and that she believed a “Yes” vote for care “will mean we go forward, not back”.
“We have achieved a lot but there is more to do,” the Cavan Monaghan TD said in relation to the vote which will take place on March 8th.
A yes vote in the Care referendum on March 8th will demonstrate our commitment in further enhancing supports for our family carers. 👇 pic.twitter.com/khi3R6I8fH
— Heather Humphreys (@HHumphreysFG) February 21, 2024
Minister Humphreys is leading the referendum campaign for Fine Gael, which will see the public casting votes on two proposed amendments one in relation to the family and the other in respect of care.
She has said that the importance of the Constitution “reflecting the Ireland of today” cannot be understated. “We want an Ireland that recognises how different families are; an Ireland that places huge value on the role played by our carers,” she added.
“I am also strongly advocating the removal of outdated language in the Constitution in relation to a woman’s place in the home. It’s important that we send a clear message to women, and indeed men, that a woman’s place is wherever she wants to be.
” Voting yes in these two referendums is a vote for a caring and changing Ireland.”
Family Carers Ireland have backed the Yes vote in both referendums saying they are campaigning for a ‘YesYes’ vote in support of care, compassion and equality for all.
“As a family carer for my daughter and son, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges and the lack of support. A ‘YesYes’ vote means recognising our role and addressing the support we desperately need. It’s about giving dignity and strength to those of us in the shadows, ” Tracey Carroll, family carer said for their campaign.
However, the Equality Not Care group, who are seeking a No vote, yesterday said that the new provision would be discriminatory and not uphold the rights of people with disabilities. It “seeks to deny our autonomy, dignity and equality. It also seeks to deny us the right to state support such as personal assistance services,” spokeswoman Ann Marie Flanagan said.