The Government is likely to propose a change to the definition of marriage and family in the constitution in a second referendum planned for early March.

The change will clarify that families not based on marriage are legally recognised. It is not clear what will happen the “special status” of marriage.

The vote will be held on the same day — likely March 8th — as the referendum on deleting the protection afforded mothers in the home.

Though there are significant misgivings about the proposal within Government, with several senior figures unconvinced on the issue, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed to the Dáil on Tuesday that he will propose two separate referendums.

Government spokespeople declined to release the proposed wording until the plan is approved by the Cabinet, expected to happen next week.

Article 41 recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental group unit of Society, possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law, though it does not define what it means by the family.

A subsequent section pledges to guard “with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack”.