November 2023 (2023-11) (proposed)
Gender equality

The proposed constitutional amendment on gender equality is a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Ireland to enshrine gender equality in the document.

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar marked International Women's Day (8 March 2023) by announcing the government's intention to hold a referendum in November to enshrine gender equality in the Constitution by amending Articles 40 and 41. Other referendums on separate issues may be held at the same time.[1][2]

Proposals for constitutional amendments were due to be published by the end of June with a referendum to follow in November.[1] However, as of 16 July no such proposals have been published, which has led to doubts among some as to the November target.[3]

In August 2023, official and political sources told The Irish Times that the referendum was unlikely to take place in November, as planned. Scrutiny of the term "family" by senior officials drafting the text of the amendment had raised thorny questions about its definition and about related gender issues, provoking official caution likely to create delay.[4]

The following week, in September, Taoiseach Varadkar revealed that the Government had decided to hold two referendums on the issue, in the "lifetime of the Government". He said the wordings of the referendums were still not finalised at that point. [5]

The Electoral Commission is to provide information explaining the proposed amendment and promoting participation. This is to be the first time it performs the function, which was previously the responsibility of a Referendum Commission.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Referendum on gender equality to take place in November". RTÉ News. 8 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "Taoiseach and Minister O'Gorman announce holding of referendum on gender equality". Government of Ireland (Press release). Department of the Taoiseach. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "What's happening with the referendum on Gender Equality?". The Labour Party. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Doubts grow over ‘women in the home’ referendum The Irish Times, 2023-08-28.
  5. ↑ Government to hold two referendums on gender equality, says Taoiseach RTÉ News, 2023-09-06.
  6. ↑ Dawson, Brian (8 March 2023). "Electoral Commission to Inform Public Debate and Participation in Gender Equality Referendum". Electoral Commission (Press release). Retrieved 14 April 2023.

Further reading

  • Cahillane, Laura (2017). "Revisiting Article 41.2". Dublin University Law Journal. 40 (2): 107–126.


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