A referendum on the place of women in the home will not now take place next month.

There had been speculation it would be held on the same date as the presidential election, October 26th - along with a vote on the removal of Irish blasphemy laws.

However, an Oireachtas Committee has now agreed to engage in more detailed discussions on the planned referendum on the women's place in the home.

Pre-legislative scrutiny will now get underway on September 19th, meaning the Oireachtas will not be able to consider and approve any legislation in time for a late October vote.

Fianna Fáil has labelled the delay a ‘failure of Government’ – while Sinn Féin has backed calls for the clause to be replaced with a gender-neutral provision.  

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said he was disappointed with the delay.

He said: "I believe the Article, which seeks to define where women belong in Ireland as being in the home carrying out duties, is not just sexist and reductive, but completely at odds with the Government’s gender equality policies. 

“The Constitution doesn’t seek to define the place of men. I believe it should not seek to define the place of women. To me, this is a straightforward proposition and after many decades of inaction, the time has come for the people to exercise a view on the retention or removal of the Article."

He added that he looks forward to the committee's recommendations on the matter.

The Government had proposed a simple deletion of Article 41.2.

However, groups such as the National Women's Council of Ireland had called for more consultation on the issue before it goes to a vote.

Orla O'Connor of the NWCI said the current article is "undoubtedly sexist and discriminatory", but suggested it could be a missed opportunity to "express the positive contribution of equality in the home, care and work of all kinds" if it is simply deleted.