A Constitution that reflects our values – The upcoming referendum on family, care and gender equality

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Speakers

Dr Ursula Barry, Feminist economist based in UCD with focus on the care economy, gender equality policies in Ireland and the EU

Don Samaratunga, Healthcare Assistant working in elder care and member of SIPTU’s Care Sector and Migrant Worker Network

Rachel Coyle, Head of Campaigns and Mobilisiation at the National Women’s Council

Margaret Martin, event chair

Full Event Details

What would it mean to enshrine the value of care into our Constitution? What does valuing care mean in practice?

The upcoming referendum on family, care and gender equality, now scheduled to take place in early 2024, is a unique opportunity to have a national conversation about the values we want to see reflected in our Constitution. 

Join us on 18 October at the Pump House, Dublin Port as we explore these values and discuss the proposed changes to Article 41.2.

Speakers will include:

•            Dr Ursula Barry, Feminist economist based in UCD with focus on the care economy, gender equality policies in Ireland and the EU

•            Don Samaratunga, Healthcare Assistant working in elder care and member of SIPTU’s Care Sector and Migrant Worker Network

•            Rachel Coyle, Head of Campaigns and Mobilisiation at the National Women’s Council

The event will be chaired by Margaret Martin, Chairperson of NWC. 

Following a citizens’ assembly, the Irish government announced on 8 March 2023 that it would hold a referendum in November 2023 on gender equality and removing a constitutional reference to a woman’s place being in the home. 

While the final details of the referendum are still to be decided there are possible  proposals to remove or replace Articles 40.1, 41.1, 41.3, and 41.2.

Article 40.1 says: “All citizens shall, as human people, [will be] be held equal before the law”, but does not refer explicitly to gender equality or non-discrimination.

Articles 41.1 and 41.3 define “the family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of society”, and say “marriage” is the institution “on which the family is founded”.

Article 41.2 contains a recognition that “by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved” and that the State shall therefore “endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home”.

The language and references are considered to be discrimination and too restrictive in relation to inclusion and openness and the realities of modern life in Ireland.

Speaker Biographies

Most of Margaret’s working life centred on women’s issues, particularly violence against women, and community education.  Recently retired from her role as Director of Women’s Aid other key posts included: Women’s Education Officer and Deputy Director at AONTAS; Coordinator with POWER Partnership (NWC, WERRC, UCD, Women’s Support Network, Belfast and University of Ulster); and Projects Manager in NWC.

National Women’s Council Of Ireland

The National Women’s Council of Ireland’s (NWCI) mission is to lead and to be a catalyst in the achievement of equality for women. We are the leading national representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland. A non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation, founded in 1973, we seek to achieve equality for women. We represent and take our mandate from our over 190 member groups from across a diversity of backgrounds, sectors and geographical locations. We also have a growing number of individual members who support the campaign for women’s equality in Ireland.

Our mandate is to take action to ensure that the voices of women in all their diversity are heard. Our vision is of an Ireland and of a world where women can achieve their full potential in a just and equal society.

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