Ireland senator shares thoughts on bill aiming to regulate speech for the ‘common good’. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar concedes defeat in vote over two constitutional amendments. The first amendment sought to broaden the definition of family to include cohabiting couples and their children. The second amendment aimed to replace language around a mother’s roles with “duties in the home” to acknowledge care providers.
Siobhán Mullally, a law professor, expressed disappointment in the missed opportunity to provide a more comprehensive definition of caretakers. Disability rights and social justice advocates opposed the measure for its restrictive definition of caretakers. Varadkar admitted that the government had made a mistake in proposing these amendments.
Opponents of the amendments argued that the concept of a “durable relationship” was unclear and that women and mothers were being excluded from the constitution. Some voters felt the amendments were rushed and lacked proper explanation. Ireland’s transformation from a conservative, Catholic country to a socially liberal society was evident in the rejection of these amendments.
The country has seen a decline in the proportion of Catholic residents over the years. Ireland has previously voted to legalize same-sex marriage and abortion, reflecting its shift towards a more progressive society.
