Ireland looks set to reject constitutional changes
Ireland was expected to reject proposals to amend constitutional references regarding family structure and women’s roles in the home, based on early tallies from referendums. The votes, referred to as the family amendment and the care amendment, aimed to update Article 41 of the Irish constitution, which dates back to 1937. The first proposal sought to broaden the definition of family beyond marriage-based relationships, and the second aimed to replace outdated language about a mother’s duties with recognition of care provided by family members due to their bonds. Critics argued the changes would shift the responsibility of care to families rather than the state. The results were anticipated to be announced on the day following the vote, which coincided with International Women’s Day.