Ireland Rejects Constitutional Amendments on Family and Care Roles

In a historic defeat, Irish voters overwhelmingly voted against proposals to modernize the constitution's language on family and women's roles.

Irish voters rejected two referendums aimed at modernizing constitutional language on family roles and the duties of women, marking the largest referendum defeat in the country's history.
The first referendum sought to expand the definition of family beyond marriage, while the second aimed to replace language about women's duties in the home with a clause recognizing the role of family members in care provision.
Critics argued the proposed changes were vague and failed to address broader issues of care outside the home, leading to widespread opposition from both progressive and conservative groups.
The defeat has sparked debate over the government's approach to constitutional reform and raised questions about the political future of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar ahead of upcoming elections.
Disability rights activists and carers expressed relief at the referendum's failure, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive government support for care responsibilities.