Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) must “listen hard” to those they represent, leading voices of the No campaign in last week’s referendum on care have said.

NGOs advocating Yes-Yes votes faced criticism following the overwhelming rejection of the family and care referendums last week. There have been suggestions Oireachtas members will review Government funding of the sector.

The Family Carers Ireland (FCI) organisation, which describes itself as representing “family and young carers across the country” is one of those who has faced a backlash.

The Equality Not Care (ENC) group, founded to campaign against the care referendum, this week called for the “immediate resignation” of the “leadership” of FCI. Michael O’Dowd, a carer and member of ENC, said the FCI statement “felt like gaslighting and that they were relighting the referendum”.

Asked if there was a future for FCI, he said: “There has to be. But the board has to look at themselves … They are voluntary and there’s no doubting their commitment but they need to listen hard to carers and not assume they know best.”