Care amendment defeated in Cavan-Monaghan

'No' by a majority of more than 81%.

The 40th Amendment to the Constitution, cast a green coloured ballot paper and proposing to delete the current Articles 41.2.1° and 41.2.2° and inserting a new Article 42B, has been defeated in Cavan-Monaghan by a majority of more than 81%.

All 260 boxes have been opened and votes counted- 136 boxes from Cavan, 118 in Monaghan and six from the portion of North Meath that still remains within the constituency.

The 39th Amendment to the Constitution, relating to the Family, was defeated by a majority of around 78% of voters - the highest percentage across the country at the time of announcement.

Returning office Joseph Smith announced, for the 40th Amendment, that the electorate was 108,812, with the total poll standing at 48,761.

There were 557 spoiled votes, leaving a valid total poll of 48,204.

The number of 'yes' votes was 9,038 compared to 39,166 in favour of retaining the constitution as it is.

Electorate 108,812

Total Poll 48,761

Invalid 557

Valid 48,204

Yes 9,038

No 39,166

Article 41.2.1° “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.”

Article 41.2.2° “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.”

The Constitution currently, by Article 41.2, refers to the importance to the common good of the life of women within the home and that the State should endeavour to ensure that mothers should not have to go out to work to the neglect of their “duties in the home”.

The amendment involved deleting Article 41.2.1° and Article 41.2.2° and inserting a new Article 42B, as shown below:

“The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision.”