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

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and his staff and all the wonderful staff here in Leinster House for all the immense work everyone does in keeping the House running smoothly. I wish everyone well as we approach the recess. In December I was honoured to present the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality in my capacity as Cathaoirleach of that committee. We endorsed the Citizens' Assembly recommendation to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution to require greater constitutional recognition for the principles of equality and gender equality in particular, to remove sexist language referring to women and mothers in particular as having lives and duties in the home, to introduce meaningful recognition of the value and role of care and of course to create a more inclusive definition of families. On 8 March, International Women's Day, the Taoiseach announced the referendum would be held this November. Our committee had produced a unanimously agreed wording that could be put to the people. We have heard nothing since then as to when the referendum will be held.

I submitted a parliamentary question last week asking the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, whether the referendum would be held in November and I got a very disappointing reply yesterday saying an interdepartmental group has been established, it has been working on policy proposals which will be brought forward for consideration and decision by Government and that the Department will be in a position to update further at that stage. When will the referendum be held? Will it be held in November? It has been delayed so many times. We have been criticised internationally for continuing to have sexist language in the Constitution. We need a more inclusive definition of family and we need to see care valued and recognised in our Constitution. When will it happen?

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