2024-03-10 02:39:20
Irish Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Communications and Transport Eamon Ryan has admitted that the government has lost the two referendums on changes to the Irish constitution, DPA and PA media reported.
Counting of votes began at 9am today after the public went to the polls yesterday to vote on whether to change the constitution’s texts related to family and care issues. The results of the two referendums will be announced separately later today.
According to preliminary data, many people voted “No”, which means a heavy defeat for the government.
“No, we didn’t get the result we wanted, but I have to respect the voice of the people,” Ryan said. “We have to wait for the final vote count, but if the result is ‘No’, we have to respect it,” he added.
“I don’t think one can respect the voice of the people if they say: ‘What went wrong, people didn’t vote the right way,'” the minister emphasized.
Senator Michael McDowell, a former justice secretary who campaigned for a No vote, said it was “unwise social experimentation” with the constitution. “I believe the individual voters. They looked at what was being offered to them and said ‘No,'” he said.
Labor leader Ivana Bacik also made a statement. The result at this early stage certainly looks disappointing for those who campaigned for a Yes vote, she said.
“I really think and it’s clear that it’s the responsibility of the government because it has to explain to the people why it chose wording that is so different to what the parliamentary gender equality committee proposed, wording that all parties supported.” , she added.
A low turnout was reported throughout election day, with some districts reporting less than 30% of registered voters cast their ballots.
Votes on the two issues will be counted separately, with results expected to be announced by the evening.
The family amendment proposes to expand its meaning beyond what is defined by marriage and to include relationships that are based on “enduring” ties, BTA writes.
The care amendment provides for the removal of texts related to the roles and responsibilities of women at home and replacing them with a new article according to which all family members take care of each other.
The Constitution is the fundamental law of the country and can only be changed with the approval of Irish citizens through a national vote.
The referendum campaigns sparked debates about the role of women in the home, the role of the state in these matters and the importance of the family. The Irish government campaigned to support the passage of both proposed amendments. It said the changes would remove sexist language, recognize the role of all members of a family in caring for a child and extend protections to those living in a family home.