The current version of the Constitution is a “bit offensive” to women, Ciara Kelly has said. 

The Government has announced it will hold a referendum on gender equality on March 8th - which is celebrated across the world as International Women’s Day. 

A Yes vote would mean a new version of Article 41.2 which states that “by her life within the home, [a] woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.” 

Ciara said there is “some truth” in Article 41.2 but that it fails to fully reflect the role of women in modern society. 

“I would suggest that women all over the country are working within the home, whether they work outside the home as well or not - and they are doing some good,” she told Newstalk Breakfast listeners. 

“I do think that but I don’t like the Constitution talking about ‘women’s life within the home’ as if that is our place.” 

“To me, I find it a bit offensive actually and I don’t really like how the State framed women’s lives for much of the lifetime of the State so far.” 

The wording of what could replace the current version of  Article 41.2 has yet to be announced and Ciara said she is a bit apprehensive about what the Government will propose. 

“I’d like to see it gone, I’m not sure at all about what they want to replace it with, that gives me the fear as well," she said. 

“But I would like to see it gone and taken, I just don’t like putting other things in, that’s the truth.” 

Culture war?

Co-presenter Shane Coleman agreed the current wording is “archaic” but warned a referendum could end up proving “very messy” for  the Government. 

“This could end up becoming a culture war on gender,” he said. 

“If I was in Government, I would tread really, really carefully here. 

“We’ve had problems in the past putting things in the Constitution… and this could end up backfiring on the Government. 

“We’ve seen in the past referendums being defeated for reasons that were nothing to do with the referendums themselves and I think this could very much happen this time.” 

All Irish citizens who are over the age of 18 and ordinarily resident in the State will be entitled to vote in the referendum.

Main image: Ciara Kelly.