Referendums on the definition of family and on removing the protection offered to mothers in the home have been comprehensively defeated, as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted the Government failed to convince the public and was given “two wallops” by the electorate.

The referendum on family – which proposed adding the term “durable relationships” to the Constitution – was defeated by a 2 to 1 margin with 67.69 per cent voting No.

The referendum on care – which proposed deleting the requirement to try and protect mothers from being forced out of the home due to “economic necessity” and replacing it with a gender-neutral recognition of care within the family – was also heavily defeated, with 73.9 per cent voting No. This was the greatest No vote in a referendum in the history of the State.

Aontú Party leader Peadar Tóibín said Children’s Minister, Roderick O’Gorman, has “serious questions to answer now in relation to this”.

He added that it was “incredible that Aontú was the only political party that campaigned against this”. He also said there is a bubble in the world of politics and that the Opposition also have questions to answer.