Delegates at the Constitutional Convention have voted overwhelmingly to amend rather than delete Article 41.2 of the Constitution which deals with women in the home.  

This was in line with the recommendations of submissions from the Iona Institute and Curam, which advocates for carers in the home, both of whom argued for the amendment as against the deletion of the article.

Eighty eight percent of the delegates were in favour of changing the article, while only 11pc believed that the article should be left as it is.

The vast majority of delegates, 98pc, were in favour of making the clause gender-neutral, with only two percent opposed, while 62pc believed that the clause should refer to carers outside the home, with 37pc opposed to this.

Delegates were also asked what level of support the Constitution should oblige the State to provide to carers.

The largest number of delegates, 35pc, said that the new article should oblige the State to “Provide a reasonable level of support, while 30pc said the new article should say that the State “Shall support” carers. A further 20pc said that the clause should ask the State to “Endeavour to support” carers.

The Convention also dealt with the wider question of gender equality in the Constitution. Delegates were asked whether the Constitution should be amended to include an explicit provision on gender equality.

Sixty two percent were in favour of such a change, with 37pc opposed.

However, delegates were much more evenly split on whether the Constitution should be amended to “place a duty on the State to take positive action to enhance women’s participation in politics and public life”.

Fifty percent of the delegates opposed this idea, while 49pc were in favour and one percent had no opinion.