The Iona Institute has said that it is “concerning” that the proposed referendum on Article 41 of the Constitution seeks to amend the section without mentioning the word “home” at all.
The government today announced referendums to remove the reference in the Constitution acknowledging the benefit of the support given to the State by the work of women in the home; and also to expand the concept of the family within the constitution, will take place next year.
Under the proposal, Article 41.2, which currently recognises that “by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved”, would be deleted.
Instead, a new article, 42B, would be inserted which would say that care given by members of a family “gives to society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved and shall strive to support such provision”
The votes will be held on March 8th, 2024, which is International Women’s Day.
A second referendum will seek to amend Article 41.2 where the State recognises the special position of the family based on marriage – and instead define the family as “founded on marriage or on other durable relationships”.
Some women took issue immediately with Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s claim that the current wording “seeks to contain women in a very singular role, a role that’s completely divorced from the reality of women’s lives, women’s careers across our State today”.
I would argue that women in the home do give a ‘support without which the common good cannot be achieved’ (article 41.2.1). I will be voting no to the proposed changes as the current constitution provides safeguards for women & does NOT prevent women from working outside the home
— Colette Colfer (@ColetteColfer) December 5, 2023
“I would argue that women in the home do give a ‘support without which the common good cannot be achieved’ (article 41.2.1). I will be voting no to the proposed changes as the current constitution provides safeguards for women & does NOT prevent women from working outside the home,” said university lecturer, Colette Colfer.
The Iona Institute said that while it needed to study the wording fully, it noted “that the proposed replacement to the section on mothers in the home no longer mentions the home at all.”
“This is concerning. Why not retain the current reference? The Government could seek to make the language in this section gender-neutral but still give special mention to the home and its value to people,” the Institute said.
They said the approach being taken “fits in with the overall Government philosophy which appears to prioritise the economy over the home and seeks to have as many people as possible become members of the workforce”.
“We need to study the proposed wording of the section on the family more closely. We note that it will include relationships other than marriage. This could be seen as a further downgrading of the importance of marriage to the State,” it added.
However, the Green Party said a woman’s place is “wherever she wants it to be” and welcomed what it described as a “ground-breaking” referendum.
The National Women’s Council said it welcomed “the announcement of a referendum on family, family care, and ‘women in the home’ for 8 March”