News and Deputy News Editors Hannah Costello and Faith Holmes investigate the upcoming referendum and how UCD students sway to vote.
On Friday, 8th of March, many UCD students and the rest of Ireland will vote in the first referendum since 2019, to propose changes to Article 41 of the constitution spread over two ballots.
Article 41 understands the Family founded on marriage “as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society”, and the State “pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage”. Following the same-sex marriage referendum in 2015, gay marriage is also safeguarded under Article 41 of the Constitution. The March 8th referendum will vote to amend Article 41 by positing that any durable relationship - thus not necessarily marriage - represents the foundation of the family. If this amendment passes, other familial arrangements - including civil partnerships and single-parent families - will be recognised as Family units under the Irish Constitution.
The March 8th referendum will vote to amend Article 41 by positing that any durable relationship - thus not necessarily marriage - represents the foundation of the family.
The second ballot of the March 8th referendum relates instead to articles 41.2.1 and 41.2.2, which emphasise the caretaking role of women within the home. In particular, article 41.2.2 posits that the State should “ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.” The referendum proposes adding a new article in place of these, 42B, which would posit that care responsibilities should be undertaken by any family member - thus not only women; furthermore, Article 42B would entail that the State “gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision.”
The referendum proposes adding a new article in place of these, 42B, which would posit that care responsibilities should be undertaken by any family member - thus not only women.
Numerous student-led efforts have been made to increase the interaction of UCD Students with this referendum, such as the voting drive held by UCD Politics Society (PolSoc) on the 6th of February in collaboration with the UCD Students Union and Dublin City Council. The Politics and International Relations Society and the Young Green Part also hosted a panel on the 19th of February to discuss varying points of view on the proposed articles. Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman of the Green Party advocated for a ‘Yes Yes’ vote, criticising the designation of women in a "very singular role" in the Women in the Home article as well as fighting against the criticism that the phrase durable relationships may be too vague - stating the intention is to have the state value families "not bonded by marriage", citing the 43% of children born to unmarried parents.
The Politics and International Relations Society and the Young Green Party also hosted a panel on the 19th of February to discuss varying points of view on the proposed articles.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Senator Tom Clonan, a disability rights advocate, campaigned for a No in the Care vote, criticising the proposition as ableist and making “Ireland an unequal ableist apartheid society”. Speaking to The University Observer, he stated that as a feminist himself, he rejected the claims that the revised article would support more progressive feminist language, instead describing it as “paternalistic, sexist”.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Senator Tom Clonan, a disability rights advocate, campaigned for a No in the Care vote, criticising the proposition as ableist and making “Ireland an unequal ableist apartheid society.
Senator Clonan further elaborated his position by explaining that making care the responsibility of the family distracts from the fact that the norm in other countries in Europe, such as in Germany, is accommodation and care “24/7, 365 days a year”, in comparison to Ireland, where disabled people are “not allowed to participate in the public sphere, confined and located in the family setting”.
The University Observer surveyed UCD students on campus and found that 46% of students were registered to vote, and out of these students, 99% knew about the referendum and planned to vote. Most students described themselves as relatively informed about the election, at 45%, with 37% saying they were very informed and 18% saying they felt they were not informed.
However, those on all ends of the spectrum mentioned they felt there had been a lot of misinformation and struggled to decide on the vote without being influenced by this. Out of students who planned to vote, ‘Yes Yes’ led the way in popularity at 37%, while 27% hadn’t decided their vote yet. ‘No Yes’ came next at 18%, while ‘No No’ and ‘Yes No’ tied at 9% of those surveyed.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Senator Tom Clonan, a disability rights advocate, campaigned for a No in the Care vote, criticising the proposition as ableist and making “Ireland an unequal ableist apartheid society.
Compared to national polls by The Irish Times, UCD students consider themselves more informed than regular voters, as only 8% considered themselves ‘a lot’ informed in national polls. Students on campus did, however, follow the general trend of the ‘Yes Yes’ preference, adding to the conclusion many have been making that both votes in the referendum will pass.
The platform checktheregister.ie has been put in place for voters to find out where their polling stations are. All voters need to do is access the platform and input the required details. They will then be sent a polling card before voting day, explaining what they are to vote on and where they ought to vote. Unfortunately, polling cards are not always sent on in due time and if this is the case, votes are to enquire to their polling station which is listed in their name at checktheregister.ie . If their chosen form of identification does not have their address displayed, they may require separate proof of address to vote. The votes will be split over two ballot papers, and voters will be asked to place an X in the box corresponding to either Yes or No for each ballot paper.
The referendum on Article 41 represents a significant moment for Ireland, as it can potentially shape the country's future for families and care. The outcome of this referendum will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences, and the voices of UCD students and the broader public will play a vital role in determining the path forward.