LIVE BLOG: Referendums on Family and Care
Interviews, results and updates.
19.40pm
And that's it folks. Just like that, its all over! Thank you and goodnight.
19.35pm
Care amendment defeated in Cavan-Monaghan
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
19.20pm
Hold on. Announcement imminent.
19.13pm
Its almost as if Dublin Castle doesn't know we've places to be. FYI there is another concert in Cavan tonight, a secret gig for the launch of The Savage Hearts' new single Gang War and its accompanying b-side Speed Kills. Check it out:
19.06pm
Its becoming lonely in the count centre now. C'mon Dublin!
18.58pm
Dublin still haven't come back, and so we wait, In the meantime Returning Officer Joseph Smith has released the count staff, thanking several by name for their assistance today.
18.33pm
Just awaiting say so from Dublin Castle before a formal announcement can be made in relation to the 40th Amendment to the Constitution.
The outcomes is a mere formality at this stage.
18.24pm
78% of voters rejected the Family amendment proposal in Cavan-Monaghan - the highest percentage so far across the country
18.20pm
Well that's one out of the way. This relieved journalist may get to see Sultans of Ping after all!
18.05pm
Official confirmation of the result in the 39th Amendment, dealing with Article 41.1.1°and Article 41.3.1° of the Constitution, both of which relate to the Family.
Electorate 108,812
Total Poll 48,763
Invalid 545
Valid 48,218
Yes 10,569
No 37,649
17.56pm
We may have an announcement in the not too distant future. Stay tuned.
17.07pm
That is, as we said earlier, an overwhelming majority in favour of 'no'.
17.01pm
UPDATE We have an unofficial tally for the 39th Amendment to the Constitution dealing with Article 41.1.1°and Article 41.3.1° of the Constitution, both of which relate to the Family.
The estimated turnout in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency is 44.5% (circa 48,100), with around 10,500 voting 'yes' and a change to the constitution, and 37,600 casting a 'no' vote on Friday.
That's close to four out of every five votes (79%) voting against the recommended amendments.
16.57pm
They've been sorting the green ballot papers for the past while. Again there's a high number of 'no' votes coming through.
16.50pm
16.48pm
Cavan and Monaghan have a habit, as a joined constituency, of siding with the national train of thought, in all but one of the last 10 referendum dates. It voted to reject the 28th Amendment- Treaty of Lisbon I- in 2008, but then again who didn't?
16.45pm.
The Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013 was a curious one.
The turnout locally was middling by comparison (34.49%). The proposal was to amend the Constitution of Ireland to abolish Seanad Éireann.
Cavan-Monaghan was one of 15 to vote in favour of scrapping the upper house.
Because the Thirty-third Amendment was passed on the same day, there is now no 'Thirty-second Amendment'.
16.43pm
16.41pm
It says 14 but really it is the tenth referendum date in order going back.
No 14. 26th Amendment- Treaty of Nice II- 19 October 2002- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 43,860 50.49%
For: 27,262 62.48%
Against: 16,370 37.52%
16.40pm
Nearly there.
No 13. 27th Amendment- Irish Citizenship- 11 June 2004 ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 31,817 67.33%
For: 25,320 80.77%
Against: 6,030 19.23%
Monaghan
Turnout: 30,466 69.12%
For: 23,868 79.63%
Against: 6,107 20.37%
16.39pm
First time out!
No 12. 28th Amendment- Treaty of Lisbon I- 12 June 2008- REJECTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 49,649 53.43%
For: 22,346 45.18%
Against: 27,113 54.82%
16.37pm
Anyone remember this?
No 11. 28th Amendment- Treaty of Lisbon II- 2 October 2009- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 56,262 59.06%
For: 34,740 61.99%
Against: 21,301 38.01%
16.30pm
No words necessary. A visual representation of what's to come.
16.24pm
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”. READ MORE.
16.15pm
No 10. 29th Amendment Judges' Remuneration- 27 October 2011- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 58,425 59.04%
For: 45,487 80.25%
Against: 11,195 19.75%
16.10pm
No 9. 30th Amendment- Fiscal Treaty- 31 May 2012- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 47,689 48.76%
For: 27,296 57.58%
Against: 20,106 42.42%
16.01pm
No 8. 31st Amendment Children- 10 November 2012- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 28,358 27.53%
For: 15,193 53.86%
Against: 13,016 46.14%
15.45pm
No 7. 32nd Amendment Abolition of the Seanad- 4 October 2013- REJECTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 34,637 34.49%
For: 18,705 54.87%
Against: 15,382 45.13%
Cavan-Monaghan was one of only a handful of areas to vote in favour of doing away with the Seanad with a margin of 3,323 9.75%
15.31pm
Where will the blame lie and what will the fallout be?
Speaking this afternoon, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "I think it's clear at this stage that the family amendment and the care amendment referendums have been defeated - defeated comprehensively on a respectable turnout.
"So the Government accepts the result and will respect it fully.
"As head of Government and on behalf of the Government, we accept responsibility for the result.
"It was our responsibility to convince the majority of people to vote 'Yes' and we clearly failed to do so."
15.28pm
We're still going with showing you the results of the last 10 referenda.
Now at:
No 6. 33rd Amendment Court of Appeal- 4 October 2013- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 34,630 34.48%
For: 21,050 62.14%
Against: 12,827 37.86%
15.21pm
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has just announced that it is clear at this stage the Family and Care amendments have been defeated.
15.15pm
Oh the glamour! You didn't ask, but then again you didn't have to. Just to show the palatial surrounds from which this live blog is coming to you all. Fuelled by copious amounts of tea.
15.07pm
RECAP Independent Ireland Councillor Shane P O'Reilly says the government have serious questions to answer for the manner in which these proposed amendments to the constitution were put to the people of Ireland.
“I think its fair to say that going on today's results that the Irish people have a question over the durable relationship of Leo, Micheál and Eamon.”
15.04pm
No 5. 34th Amendment Equal Marriage- 22 May 2015- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 56,774 57.19%
For: 28,494 50.65%
Against: 27,763 49.35%
15.01pm
14.58pm
Certainly if there was any kind of confusion then a prevailing sense of groupthink appears to have descended across much of Ireland on Friday. People have definitely make up their minds, not just in Cavan and Monaghan, but right across the country. It will make for very interesting reading to see if and how any of this though translates to the June local and european elections.
14.50pm
No 4. 35th Amendment Age of President- 22 May 2015- REJECTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 56,766 57.19%
For: 14,167 25.22%
Against: 41,997 74.78%
14.47pm
We're back to it being an empty nest.
The White ballots, for Family, will be counted first, followed by votes cast on Green paper, for the Care amendment.
14.45pm
14.40pm
No 3. 6th Amendment Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy (Repeal of 8th Amendment)- 25 May 2018- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 58,067 63.39%
For: 32,115 55.46%
Against: 25,789 44.54%
14.37pm
How about this classic for a referendum playlist?
14.34pm
No 2. 7th Amendment- Repeal of Blasphemy Offence- 26 October 2018- ACCEPTED
Cavan-Monaghan
Turnout: 38,303 41.77%
For: 21,045 56.11%
Against: 16,462 43.89%
14:24pm
14:11pm
It certainly looks like this referendum outcome could beat , if not run on par, which any of the previous largest margins.
14.10pm
We've done the digging so you don't have to. Any referendum buffs in the house?
Outcomes for the last 10 referenda in Cavan and Monaghan, going back 22 years and the 26th Amendment-Treaty of Nice II. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then!
No 1. 38th Amendment- Regulation of Divorce- 24 May 2019- ACCEPTED
Cavan-
Turnout: 32,031 56.73%
For: 24,108 77.97%
Against: 6,811 22.03%
Monaghan-
Turnout: 26,787 56.97%
For: 19,366 75.04%
Against: 6,441 24.96%
14.09pm
Time for another song.
14:03pm
The 'no' piles are stacking up.
13:50pm
Anti-Government sentiment certainly seems to be big factor in how people have decided to vote in these referenda.
13.42pm
Sorting has started here at the Cavan Count Centre with counting to begin, its expected, within the hour.
13.30pm
The constitutional amendment on the role of carers did “not go as far” as what a Citizen’s Assembly had called for, its former chair said. Catherine Day led the Citizen’s Assembly on gender equality between 2019 and 2021. She supported a formal 'Yes+Yes' campaign but said the “proposed wording does not go as far as the Assembly recommended”.
13.24pm
Tallies and tally people are thin on the ground here, so its up to us to eye-ball it and provide you with a best guesstimate of what's happening.
13.14pm
The politicians have left the building. Only those in favour of a 'no' vote showed up so far. We haven't had anyone from the 'yes' side peek their heads in the door.
13.09pm
A bat has been rescued from Limerick Count Centre. If only there was such drama at the Cavan count. Its gone quiet again. Another song maybe?
13.05pm
Growing concern now. Counting hasn't started yet. The gig is in Dublin, and the band on stage at 9pm.
12.58pm
We have our first tallies from North Meath. Six boxes in total. In one box, from Meath Hill, the Care amendment was voted down by close to 82 per cent, and Family by nearer 96 per cent.
In Kilmainhamwood the tallies were 3:1 in favour of 'no'; and at an average of around 5:1 at St Clare's National School in Cavan Town.
12.55pm
Independent Councillor Shane P O'Reilly welcomed the high number of people the east of the county and Ballyjamesduff Municipal District area who exercised their franchise to vote. READ MORE.
12.48pm
Did Tánaiste Micheál Martin's desperate attempts to spar with former barrister and Irish conservative campaigner Maria Steen on Prime Time set the “Yes” campaign back? She argued for a “No” vote in the family referendum, claiming that definition of the change could be left to the courts to decide. She felt the wording to vague, and pointed to the term “durable relationship” as interpreted by the Supreme Court to mean “an intimate, romantic or sexual relationship between two people akin to marriage but not marriage”.
Ms Steen said she recognised there are “lots of different family types in this new modern Ireland”, but asked the Tánaiste if a Muslim man who has fled persecution to make his home in Ireland with his “two wives and children that they are not in a durable relationship and that his family is not a moral institution?”
The Tánaiste replied that polygamous marriages are “illegal” and the law already prevents it.
12.47pm
Early tallies often come with a big flashing lights health warning. Not this time.
12.27pm
Cllr Shane P O'Reilly has now arrived at the Cavan Count Centre all the way from Mullagh, joining fellow Independent Brendan Fay and Aontú's Sarah O'Reilly and Grainne McPhillips in the trenches.
12.25pm
12.14pm
A tally from a booth in the Scouts Den in Cavan Town.
The box has returned close to 75 per cent in favour of 'no' in the Family referendum.
On the Care vote, the tally is running closer to 80 per cent against.
12.10pm
The first to concede.
12.09am
The Simpsons can always be relied upon for some brevity.
12.05pm
"People were scared" by what would happend if a 'yes' vote was passed, says Independent Brendan Fay. READ HERE.
11:49am
The sense of apathy among the public to these two referendums was palpable on the streets in the run up. Much of that was mired in a sense of confusion over what people were being asked to vote on. Many felt the possible consequences weren't explained fully, while others said there had been very little engagement during the campaign despite the long run-in.
11.45am
11.40am
Independent councillor Brendan Fay has now arrived at the Cavan Count Centre
11.30am
This will be the last time the people of North Meath have their votes counted alongside the people of Cavan and Monaghan. Cavan-Monaghan is to be retained as a five-seater constituency for the purposes of the next General Election, but are set to return to the Meath West constituency in future.
Electoral districts from north Meath were drafted into Cavan-Monaghan at the last review in 2017.
This previously happened to west Cavan in 2012 when sliced from Cavan-Monaghan and added to a diverse constituency including Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal.
11:25am
On the subject of anything other than referendums, because things really have gone quiet, but still tangibly related, what would be your play list?
or how about:
Maybe not based off early tallies from around the country.
11.23am
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar did not break electoral rules by filming a campaign video outside his local polling station, his party has said. READ HERE.
11.16am
Its all gone a bit quiet here. Count staff are going for tea. The Celt is still beavering away here, but beginning to worry whether this will finish on time to let them make it to Dublin and catch Cork's finest The Sultan's of Ping at Vicar Street.
11.05am
Unofficial and early tally estimates are that 'No' in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency is running at a ratio of 8:1. Around half the boxes are open so far.
In a Killeshandra box a 'no' in both the Care and Family was running at 80 per cent and over.
10.54am
The Anglo-Celt will be covering the counts in Cavan and Monaghan throughout the day.
10.52am
Care Amendment
The 40th Amendment to the Constitution proposes deleting the current Articles 41.2.1° and 41.2.2° and inserting a new Article 42B.
The amendment proposes deleting an article that reads: “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. 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.”
If there is a “Yes” outcome, the proposed amendment will recognise that all people, whether parents, adult children, minors, siblings or other family members, provide care. The amendment reads: “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.”
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”.
10.51am
A reminder about what all this is about:
Family Amendment
The 39th Amendment to the Constitution deals with Article 41.1.1°and Article 41.3.1° of the Constitution, both of which relate to the Family.
It proposes expanding the definition of a family beyond marriage to include those in “durable relationships”.
n Article 41.1.1° “The State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law.”
In Article 41.3.1° “The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack.”
The Constitution currently recognises the centrality of the family unit in society and protects the Family founded on marriage.
A majority “Yes” means that constitutional protection of the Family would be given to both the Family based on marriage and the Family founded on “other durable relationships” without distinction as to their sex.
The institution of Marriage will continue to be recognised as an institution that the State must guard with special care and protect against attack.
10:50am
There are 28 count centres running simultaneously in various corners of the county, taking in and separating votes from 43 constituencies. Once tallied, the results will be forwarded to the national count centre at Dublin Castle. An outcome is expected by late afternoon.
10:43am
Speaking on Thursday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested that Ireland would be taking a “step backwards” this week if it votes against two changes to the constitution. He claimed the amendments are designed to remove “old-fashioned” language about women and formally recognise families beyond those involving marriage.
“I think a no vote would be a setback for the country, quite frankly,” he said. “It would say to a lot of people, hundreds of thousands of people and children, that they’re not in a family as far as our constitution is concerned. And that would be a step backwards.”
Do you agree?
10:40am
10:39am
Aontú referendum poster damaged in Cavan
Cavan County Councillor and Aontú representative Sarah O'Reilly has condemned the targetting of her party's posters in Cavan Town.
It was a referendum poster and the matter has been reported to gardaí as criminal damage. READ HERE.
10.30am
There was a low turn out for the Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Act 2012. If memory serves, the appetite for this was poor too. Was it voter fatigue? We just had the 30th Amendment- Fiscal Treaty- earlier that same year and the 29th Amendment Judges' Remuneration referendum in 2011.
The Amendment on Children inserted clauses relating to children's rights and the right and duty of the state to take child protection measures. Yet the turnout for Cavan-Monaghan was just 27.53%. It was accepted nationally, and locally the margin was 53.86% for and 46.14% against.
10.26am
Local Aontú representatives have delivered a scathing rebuke of the government in relation to the amendments put to the people at this referendum. READ HERE
10:15am
With no tally men available we've had to eyeball it. Booth 5 at St Michael's NS in Bailieborough.
On the white ballot papers- the Referendum concerns the concept of Family in the Constitution- a rough tally indicates a much closer race but with 70 per cent noting 'No'.
10.10am
Aontú's Sarah O'Reilly and local election candidate for the Ballyjamesduff area have just arrived at the Cavan Count Centre.
Cllr O'Reilly says she was “incredibly emotional” to vote in these referenda on International Women's Day.
“If anything the potential outcome of these referenda send message that we must listen to the people. The government are so far removed from that the people actually want and need. Its jaw dropping. There was little legislative scruitney on these referenda. I believe there are powerful NGOs in this country who have the ear of government and this really needs to be addressed."
9.58am
Aontú's Grainne McPhillips, a candidate for the next election in the Ballyjamesduff area, has just arrived at the Cavan Count Centre.
She's stunned by the seeming lack of interest shown by other political parties in these referenda. She believes that Aontú have been fully engaged throughout the process, and party leader Peadar Tobín has campaign strongly for a 'No' vote on both.
“The constitution being the fundamental legal document of our country, its no place for poorly written and thought out amendments. The untold consequences of these amendments passing, if these were to pass, would play havoc on the systems of this country. The whole area of 'durable relationship' would have created complexities in our courts, never mind what consequences it could have had on taxation, succession, family law, social welfare and others aspects."
9:50am
And just like that there's two. Grainne's Aontú party colleague and sitting councillor Sarah O'Reilly has just arrived.
9.40am
Aontú's Grainne McPhillips, a candidate for the next election in the Ballyjamesduff area, has just arrived. She's the only person other than the Celt and the count staff here so far.
9.35am
Unlike other referenda, local election and nationals, there are no tally men here. These are usually party affiliated volunteers who count where votes are going giving an early indication of where the swing might be. Its a strange sight to say the least.
9.28am
If you listen to the dog in the street, anti-Government sentiment could play a major factor in the outcome of both counts. There are certainly some possible spoiled votes in the mix, but many of them down to sheer carelessness.
9.25am
If history has taught us anything its that the lower the turnout the stronger the swing in terms of a possible 'No'. The Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Act 2013 has a turnout locally of just 34.48%, ending up with 62.14% voting in favour of establishing a Court of Appeal to sit between the existing High and Supreme Courts for the purpose of taking over most of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
9.24am
There seems to be consensus that these referenda have failed to grasp the public's interest quite like recent previous- Repeal the 8th and Marriage Equality.
Turnout was certainly better in urban polling stations in the early portion of the day but that trend seemed to even out, with rural stations reporting higher numbers before polls closed at 10pm.
9:20am
There are no tallies available, but even a cursory scan of votes being sorted shows an overwhelming push towards 'No' on both the Family and Care referenda.
Boxes opened from the Matt Talbot Hall in Kingscourt, from booths 1-4, showed only a handful of 'Yes' votes.
9am
Counting has begun.
8.58am
There are 260 boxes in total to open, 136 from Cavan. The remainder cover neighbouring Monaghan (118) and North Meath (6) as well.
8.57am
There is a serious crew manning the count here in Cavan Leisure Centre. There are 74 counters and more than 20 other staff supervising, calculating, providing security and manning the doors etc.
The returning officer for Cavan-Monaghan, as was the case in recent referenda, is Joseph Smith.
8.55am
There seems to be consensus that these referenda have failed to grasp the public's interest quite like recent previous- Repeal the 8th and Marriage Equality. What's certain is that right up to the middle of this week there was a large number of people still on the fence.
8:50am
Not long left now. The counting at Cavan Leisure Centre is for all votes cast in polling stations across counties Cavan, Monaghan and the portion of North Meath still retained within the constituency boundary.
The first Referendum concerns the concept of Family in the Constitution.
The second Referendum proposed deleting an existing part of the Constitution and to insert new text providing recognition for care provided by family members to each other.
8:45am:
A big upswing in voter numbers showing up across the county, especially in rural areas from mid-afternoon onwards, has meant a better than expected turnout for this referendum in some parts of Cavan: READ
8:40am
Counting of votes where citizens have been asked to vote in two referendums to change our Constitution is about to get under way at Cavan Leisure Centre. The changes relate to language in Bunreacht na hÉireann, first ratified by the Irish people in 1937 and is the fundamental law of the State. The amendments relate to ‘women in the home’ and the definition of what constitutes a family.