Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like others, I wish to pay tribute to the hundreds and thousands of volunteers and people who have worked over the past 35 years to see last Friday's result occur, and in such a spectacular fashion. In particular, Senator Bacik has been fighting a lonely battle over a number of years and has brought other people along with her. As Senator Ruane mentioned, Deputy Clare Daly raised the issue when it was very unpopular to do so, kept the issue on the political agenda and made us all focus on it. I would like to pay tribute to them in particular but also to everybody else on all sides. The debate was conducted in a relatively decent fashion and we did not engage in the personal abuse, which I believe was the hallmark of a previous referendum on this issue. I support Senator Bacik's call for the Government to move swiftly with the legislation and to implement interim measures to make the situation more tolerable for Irish women.

I want to refer to another article in the Constitution which I would like to see repealed, namely, Article 41.2. For those who are not familiar with it, I will read it. It states:

1° In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.

2° The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.

This article and its language are wholly unsuitable for a modern Ireland. They do not take into consideration the contribution women have made and make daily to public life, their communities, business, agriculture, the law, the arts, science, technology - the list could go on. Economic independence for women is vitally important if we are to achieve full equality in Irish society. I therefore ask the Leader to arrange a debate on this issue and this article of the Constitution. I would certainly like to see it addressed in the very near future.