The upcoming referendum on care in the home “provide constitutional recognition for Ireland's family carers”, according to Family Carers Ireland. 

Two referendums are coming up on March 8th, one of which seeking to change the role of women and care provisions in the constitution.  

The General Scheme of the Care Amendment would delete Article 41.2 from the Constitution and replace it with a new Article 42B reading: 

“The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision.” 

This amendment has been criticised for the exclusion of women from its wording, suggesting this would delegitimise the work of women in home life. 

Catherine Cox from Family Carers Ireland (FCI), however, argued this referendum offers the chance to “empower” carers. 

“We're calling for a ‘yes, yes’ to provide constitutional recognition for Ireland's 500,000 plus family carers who are men and women,” she told The Anton Savage Show. 

“We want to put something into our Constitution as well that puts pressure and an onus on the Government to support family care. 

“It not only includes the family carers who are providing care, but it does encompass the people who are receiving that care as well. 

“Care in Ireland today is diverse - it's different and comes in all different shapes and sizes.” 

While others have criticised the particular wording of the referendum, Ms Cox said “strive to support” puts enough pressure on the State. 

“If you look up the meaning of that it actually means fight vigorously to make something happen,” she said. 

Disabled people against referendum

Others have argued the amendment would deny disabled people’s autonomy and denies them the right to State support such as personal assistance services. 

There was a protest outside the Dáil earlier this week from activist groups claiming the amendment puts all the duty of care onto families. 

Addressing these concerns, Ms Cox argued the referendum is about “the idea of a shared responsibility of care”. 

“The family have, I suppose, the primary responsibility for caring for loved ones and most family carers wants to do that, but they shouldn't have to do it on their own,” she said. 

“The idea of this is that the State has a responsibility, and they are committed to supporting that care. 

“That care may well be in the home or in the community, it can bring in things like personal assistant hours for people with disabilities.” 

She pointed out the Law Society of Ireland and the Irish Women Lawyers Association says the referendum is “not placing an obligation solely on the family” to provide care to people with disabilities. 

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