'This was a semantics referendum, filled with smoke and mirrors and confusion'
Monaghan group campaigned 'no'.
Jer Savage from Monaghan, a member of a non-party who supported a 'no' vote in both referenda says he feels their position has been “vindicated”.
Mr Savage, from Monaghan Town, says their group has no association with political parties, independent or otherwise, and feels that “none of the political parties are listening to the people” except for Aontú and Independents.
“The decision is great for the country and democracy. There is a lack of democracy at local level, there is no voice that can ever reach the echelons of power. It is top down approach, its hierarchical.”
The non-party group campaign, who term themselves “worried” by the direction the country is taking, campaigned for 'no' vote in their local communities. They found a good response throughout, and “sometimes very heartfelt emotions about the way the country is going,” says Mr Savage. “We were taken aback at times by the degree of support we received.”
Mr Savage and his associates would like to see a return to “grassroots influence”, something akin the system employed at local level in the likes of Switzerland.
“We want a more collaborative approach. We need governance rethought, and self-determination prioritised.”
Pointing to the McKenna judgement which states that the Government has a duty to give information to the electorate as well as to clarify issues, Mr Savage said: “The McKenna and McCrytsal judgements of 20 years ago was at no time implemented during the course of this campaign. This was a semantics referendum, filled with smoke and mirrors and confusion.”
Mr Savage concludes that it is “a given that mothers are the glue that keep families together, and are considered the main care givers. Its seem a blunder and a mistep by the government to attempt to remove reference to woman and mother from the constitution on the eve of Mother's Day. Far from removing terms we need to add, where father's role and responsibility is recognised. Mothers are at the cornerstone of Irish life, and by this decision we will not lose that bedrock.”