Referendum on reform fails
“Woman in the household” remains in the Irish constitution
March 9, 2024, 4:46 p.m
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The Irish people vote on changing a constitutional article from 1937. But while all the major parties don’t just want marriages to be considered families and want to eliminate the role of women in the household, the majority of voters have a different understanding of the family.
The referendum on rewriting a constitutional article on marriage and the role of women in the family in Ireland has failed. This is what Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. When it was counted as to whether, among other things, the “woman in the household” would be removed from the constitution, the “no” votes dominated.
Article 41 of the Irish Constitution, which was put to the vote on Friday by almost 3.5 million eligible voters, dates back to 1937. The proposed changes would mean that “long-term relationships” outside of marriage would also be considered family in Ireland in the future. In addition, an outdated reference to the role of the “woman in the household” should be deleted. A new wording should give all family members the responsibility to care for each other.
According to public broadcaster RTE, voter turnout varied greatly when polling stations closed on Friday evening. In some regions it was 50 percent, in others it was less than 30 percent.
Surveys actually indicated approval
All major political parties in Ireland supported the changes. Surveys in advance had also indicated a positive attitude among voters. Opponents of the proposals had argued that the concept of “lasting relationships” was vague and confusing.
In Ireland, which is predominantly Catholic, a two-thirds majority voted to legalize abortion in a referendum in 2018. In 2015, the Irish voted to introduce marriage for same-sex couples.