The bringing of a referendum is a matter for the Taoiseach and the Government. Any amendment to the Constitution must be carefully considered to ensure the that revised wording will have an appropriate effect and not have any unintended impacts.
The report of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality made 3 recommendations on the Constitution, including around language related to gender:
1. Article 40.1 of the Constitution should be amended to refer explicitly to gender equality and non-discrimination;
2. Article 41 of the Constitution should be amended so that it would protect family life, with the protection afforded to the family not limited to the marital family;
3. Article 41.2 of the Constitution should be deleted and replaced with language that is not gender specific and obliges the State to take reasonable measures to support care within the home and wider community.
The Joint Committee on Gender Equality in the final report of their considerations of the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality recommends that a constitutional referendum be held to give effect to the Citizens’ Assembly recommendations on the Constitution.
The Government is considering these recommendations at present.
