Civic society groups call for clarity on gender equality referendum

A coalition of civic society groups has called on Government to clarify when the wording on the proposed gender equality referendum will be published.

The referendum, due to be held in November, has seen little progress since it was announced in March, and the exact wording of what would appear on the ballot paper has not yet been published.

In an open letter to An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, The National Women’s Council, One Family, SIPTU, Family Carers Ireland, and Treoir said “time is needed for a national conversation on the Family, Care, and Gender Equality referendum.”

Chief Executive of One Family said “the Government owes it to them to publish a wording as soon as possible before the referendum.”

The Oireachtas Committee recommended a three-pronged referendum, where voters would be asked to vote on amendments to the Irish constitution.

Their proposed wording was “remove gendered language referring to women in the home; ensure the role of care is supported; and create a more inclusive definition of family – moving away from the constitutional definition of the family based on marriage.”

The wording was supposed to be finalised in mid-May, but there has been no movement from Government on the issue.

The referendum was announced on International Women’s Day this year by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister Roderic O’Gorman, and was included as part of the coalition agreement between Government parties in June 2020.

Director of the National Women’s Council, Orla O’Connor told RTÉ news “our Constitution, our foundational document, contains restrictive language on women’s role in society. It is outdated and carries a legacy of the mistreatment of women up to today.”

“It is important this is amended so that it reflects the value of care and everyone’s role in care right across our society.”

In July, Labour leader Ivana Bacik accused the Government of “doing a u-turn” on holding the referendum, and has reaffirmed her support for it.

“It is long past time to replace the 1937 text, which reflected Catholic religious doctrine in seeing the roles of women and mothers as confined to the home – and which did not see any role for fathers in the home. It is unacceptable now to see such delay and ambiguity from the Government.”

“A commitment was made back in March. Making good on that commitment means doing this the right way, providing campaigners with enough time and information to make the case for change. If there has been a change of plan, the least that the Taoiseach can do is to let that be known, and to provide clarity on when this important referendum is to take place.”

The last referendum to be held in Ireland took place in 2019 when 82% of voters backed an amendment that removed the requirement for a period of separation before proceedings for divorce could be initiated as well as recognising foreign divorces.

In that instance, the referendum was held on the same day as local and European elections in May 2019.