The referendum to remove a reference in the Constitution that pledges support for mothers working at home has been postponed, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has confirmed. The move comes as the Government spends more money on daycare for mothers working outside the home at the expense of mothers working in the home. Mr Flanagan said the referendum has been delayed to allow for Oireachtas scrutiny on whether the article should be deleted outright or simply amended to make it gender neutral, as per the advice of the Constitutional Convention and the Department of Justice’s internal task force.
While Minister Flanagan expressed his irritation at the delay, the move was welcomed by the National Women’s Council of Ireland as an opportunity to have a national debate to properly consider the options for replacing the current text rather than rushing to delete it.
A spokesperson said there should be a forum to “consider what we want to see in our Constitution and in addition, go beyond that to what we need in legislation, policy, and investment to facilitate the women and men make real choices regarding care, family and paid work.
“If a simple deletion of Article 41.2 is put to the people, we are only offering the option of removing an old-fashioned definition of the home and women’s role in society, and we are missing this unique opportunity to express the positive contribution of equality in the home, care and work of all kinds.”
