Bacik calls for Gender Equality and Care Referendum in 2023
Speaking to mark Nollaig na mBan, Labour Party leader, Deputy Ivana Bacik has called upon Government to commit to holding a referendum on equality and care in 2023, based upon the recommendations in the report of the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality, ‘Unfinished Democracy’, published in December 2022.
Chaired by Ivana Bacik TD, the cross-party Joint Oireachtas Committee held a range of hearings during 2022 to consider the 45 recommendations produced by the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality.
The Committee’s report contains recommendations as to the specific wording of the text for amending Articles 40.1 and 41 of the Constitution. This wording would remove the sexist language currently in the text referring exclusively to women and mothers, and it would insert gender-neutral language to ensure that the role of care is valued and supported by the state.
The proposed changes would also ensure a more inclusive definition of ‘family’ beyond the family based upon marriage.
Speaking today, Deputy Ivana Bacik called on the Government to ensure the timely implementation of all of the recommended actions set out in the report.
She said:
“In particular, I am calling upon the Government to ensure that a gender equality and care referendum is held in 2023. We need urgently to give effect to Assembly recommendations on constitutional change around equality, care and a more inclusive definition of the family.
“I call on the Government to begin the preparatory work necessary for the holding of such a referendum now. I am also calling for timely implementation of all the key recommendations of the Committee. Until gender equality is achieved, our democracy will remain unfinished.”