Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Taoiseach about two of the referendums he referred to. First, on the housing referendum, we are anxious to see that take place as soon as possible to enshrine a right to housing in the Constitution. I note the Taoiseach indicated that the wording has not been received but that he expects to receive wording from the Housing Commission by July of this year. That is welcome but we hope to see speedy progress after that.

Turning to the gender equality referendum, this is a topic that is particularly close to my own heart and it is a priority for all who served on the Joint Committee on Gender Equality which looked to take forward the great work of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality. I am delighted to hear the Taoiseach say he is giving priority to that referendum on gender equality. I remind him that our unanimously agreed cross-party report published in December came up with a specific set of wordings for the three changes necessary to give effect to the citizens' assembly recommendations to provide for gender equality in the Constitution, to delete the sexist language relating to women and mothers and replace it with gender neutral language that values and recognises care, and, crucially, to expand the definition of family beyond the marital family. We came up with the wording, which I sent to the Attorney General's office, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister with responsibility for equality, Deputy O'Gorman. I ask the Taoiseach to commit to holding that referendum as soon as possible, preferably this year. The committee previously sought for it to be held in 2023. We need the gender equality referendum. It is long overdue and given that we have now come up with a wording that received cross-party support, we ask that the Taoiseach give it particular priority for this year.

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