Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Leah Farrell

Taoiseach says 'women in the home' reference in the Constitution is 'sexist, anachronistic language'

Varadkar said it is time to separate the idea that women are inherently linked to caring and family roles.

“IT IS TIME to separate this idea that women are inherently linked with caring and family because a woman’s place is where she wants it to be and that is not necessarily in the home.”

Those were the words of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today as he defended the government’s decision to have a referendum on the deletion of the wording on a woman’s place in the home from the Constitution.

This is despite concerns being expressed by the Constitutional Convention and the Justice Department over the complete repeal simpliciter (simply removing the reference).

It had been suggested that the clause should be amended rather than deleted completely and that a gender-neutral clause or a reference to women caring in the home should be included.

Leo Varadkar said the government gave the issue careful consideration and took the advice of former Justice Catherine McGuinness in coming to the decision.

We decided that we should ask the people whether they want to delete that article on women in the home, which we believe is sexist and anachronistic, from our Constitution.
This should never have been put into the Constitution in the 1930s never mind being kept there now.

The Taoiseach said consideration was given to putting in new wording on caring or amending the definition of the family.

However, he said he and the government “do not believe we should tie up a decision on deleting this sexist anachronistic language from our Constitution with a debate on caring and families”.

“Caring and families deserves careful consideration in its own right, we will do that in 2019 and, if we can come up with wording that is agreeable, we will put that to the people as well.

“It is time to separate this idea that women are inherently linked with caring and family because a woman’s place is where she wants it to be and that is not necessarily in the home,” he said.

Varadkar said the definition of the family in Ireland is based on marriage.

“That is anachronistic too. The Constitution does not see one parent or lone parent families as families. These are much bigger issues and they should not be tied in with deleting this sexist and anachronistic language from the Constitution. Doing that is long overdue, so let us do that and look at the issues on the definition of the family and constitutional protections on caring, and the people they care whom we also have to bear in mind, as separate items,” he concluded.

A referendum on whether to delete the clause will be held in October, alongside a referendum of deleting references to blasphemy from the Constitution. The referenda are due to be held on the same day as the presidential election.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
105 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 5:46 PM

    It’s okay! The Irish lads were only interested in the “crack”.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fank Pulman
    Favourite Fank Pulman
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 5:53 PM

    @Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: *craic

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fank Pulman
    Favourite Fank Pulman
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 6:10 PM

    @Fank Pulman: crack cocaine is known as ‘crack’…

    8
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Suzie Sunshine
    Favourite Suzie Sunshine
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 6:16 PM

    @Fank Pulman: ah leave him alone he was only trying to crack a joke …

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg Blake
    Favourite Greg Blake
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 6:53 PM

    @Fank Pulman: he did use exclamation marks for a reason.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2017, 11:50 AM

    @Fank Pulman: I’m referring to the crack that can be caused by an earthquake. Near Ephesus it is possible to see a huge crack in a mountain that was caused by a previous earthquake. Crack was a pun on craic!!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2017, 11:52 AM

    @Greg Blake: thank God some one spotted it!! I will have to change my name to Mr. Mark Exclamation!!!!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hogan
    Favourite Dave Hogan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 6:15 PM

    Anybody who goes on holiday to that hellhole turkey is not bothered by earthquakes.

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john culhane
    Favourite john culhane
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 6:26 PM

    @Dave Hogan: never been to Turkey. Why is it a hellhole?

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hogan
    Favourite Dave Hogan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 6:34 PM

    @john culhane: if I said if you stick your hand in a fire you would get burned would you announce you never tried it?

    14
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fank Pulman
    Favourite Fank Pulman
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 6:41 PM

    @Dave Hogan: JC just asked a simple question…pity…

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Favourite Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 10:17 PM

    @Dave Hogan: The Irish used to keep Kusadasi in business not that long ago. It was also a handy package to spend time in the jewel that is Ephesus.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Linda Keneally
    Favourite Linda Keneally
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 11:23 PM

    @john culhane: Turkey is a beautiful country with fabulous history, scenery, food and the kindest people on the planet. We have been going to Bodrum region for years. I can only assume the previous commentor has never been.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Doyle
    Favourite James Doyle
    Report
    Jul 21st 2017, 8:36 PM

    And God made the World.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds