Report on ‘women’s place in the home’ law welcomed by human rights body

Emily Logan

The report sets out the majority view of the committee that the current wording should be replaced “with a new provision that recognises the contributions made by family life and carers to our society.”

On 19 September three Commission members appeared before Oireachtas members to set out its three key recommendations:

• Article 41.2 should be amended to make it gender-neutral.
• Article 41.2 should be amended to reference ‘family life’ and ‘family life‘ should be understood as including a wide range of family relationships and include situations where family members do not live in the same home.
• Article 41.2 should be amended to recognise and support care work.

The Commission also met on this issue in July with the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and the Employment Minister Regina Doherty to outline its proposals.

Speaking yesterday, Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission said: “The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has a mandate to keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights and equality, and we have made clear recommendations in respect to Article 41.2 which we are pleased to see largely reflected in the Committee’s report.

“The Commission welcomes the progressive approach taken by the Committee to this important issue. It is clear from its recommendations that there is cross-party support within the Committee for an amendment which recognises the public good provided by care work within and by families in Ireland. The form that amendment might take deserves to be debated and considered, recognising the important issues at stake for our citizens.”