“Family, Care and the Constitution” was part of the Law Society’s justice and law reform series of events and was organised to facilitate discussion and debate, and to contribute to the national conversation on these important matters.

A panel discussion chaired by Mark Garrett, director-general of the Law Society, featured contributions from:

• Roderic O’Gorman TD, minister for children, equality, disability, integration, and youth;
• Catherine Day, former secretary-general of the European Commission and chair of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality;
• Ivana Bacik TD, Labour Party leader and chair of the Oireachtas committee on gender equality;
• Rónán Mullen, Independent Senator, National University of Ireland (NUI) panel;
• Orla O’Connor, director of the National Women’s Council; and
• Brenda Power, journalist and barrister.

Speaking ahead of the forum, Law Society president Barry MacCarthy had said: “Justice and law reform have always been central to the Law Society’s role and part of this involves bringing together interested and expert people from civic society, politics, NGOs, and others to discuss the issues that impact Irish society.

“Any proposed change to the Constitution requires careful consideration and discussion and, as with all referendums, there has already been much debate about the merits, or otherwise, of the proposed changes.

“The Law Society is happy to facilitate this forum today and it is our hope that it will serve to provide a helpful platform for discussing the issues that are being put forward for public vote next month.”