Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We already had a debate on the family in respect of the first amendment so I will not go there. The Seanad is supposed to stick to the amendment being debated. The Constitution currently states: "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." That is straightforward. The Constitution is stating that if the woman is not in the home, the common good cannot be achieved. That is the bottom line. That is a quote from Bunreacht na hÉireann. What we want it to state instead is that the State recognises that care within and outside the home, and family, give to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. I cannot see how anybody can have any issue with that. It is completely sexist to say that if women are not at home, the common good cannot be achieved. That is ridiculous in this day and age. It is completely sexist. It does not represent many homes these days.

I would appreciate it if Senator McDowell would listen to me. I listened to him when he was objecting to the change. A woman's place is wherever she bloody well wants. That is the bottom line. In the Constitution, we are told that if the woman is not at home, the common good cannot be achieved. It is black and white. I do not appreciate the muddying of the waters because it means people who want to vote will be confused. It is simple. The Constitution at the moment states that a woman "gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved". We are saying that the State ought to recognise that care within and outside the home, and family, give to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. I hope my colleagues can see the difference.

I have many friends who would not be able to be the brilliant professional women they are without the men in their lives or the mothers in their lives giving the care and enabling us to have good women out in society. We want balance everywhere, including in every boardroom and in the Seanad. Senator McDowell is still not listening to me. We want balance everywhere and we will not get balance if Bunreacht na hÉireann is not supporting women and states we are not going to succeed as a society unless the women are staying at home all the time. That is what it currently states and there is no debate. It is proposed instead-----