Irish Women Lawyers’ Association backs Yes-Yes vote

Irish Women Lawyers' Association backs Yes-Yes vote

The Irish Women Lawyers’ Association (IWLA) has backed a Yes-Yes vote in the upcoming constitutional referendums on family and care.

However, a statement from the association’s standing committee echoes criticism from a number of legal organisations about the wording proposed by government.

It said it was “extremely unfortunate” that the proposed wording in the family referendum refers to a “durable relationship” without explaining what this means.

On the care referendum, the association welcomed the proposed to delete Article 41.2, which it said “has been entirely ineffective in its stated aim and further has prescribed a role for women which disregards the full range of contributions that women make to Irish society”.

However, it went on to say it “would have preferred the government to adopt the recommendation of the Citizens Assembly to oblige the State to take reasonable measures to support care within the home and wider community”.

Despite this, the IWLA said the proposals “are important steps in the right direction” and it would back the Yes-Yes campaign.

The association also urged the government “to initiate legislation to give financial support to carers to ensure the acknowledgement of the role of care in the Constitution is no hollow recognition”.

The family and care referendums are set to take place on Friday 8 March 2024.

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