CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Constitutional Convention to Ballot on Amending “Women in
Home” Clause from Constitution
Convention Will Also Consider Measures to Increase Women’s Participation in
Politics and Public Life
13th February 2013
The second full weekend meeting of the Constitutional Convention will be held on Saturday, 16th and
Sunday 17th of February in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Co Dublin.
The meeting will consider a proposal to amend the clause in the Constitution which emphasises the
1
central role of women in the home . It will also consider methods of encouraging greater participation
of women in public life and politics.
During the two days there will be presentations from civil society groups as well as group discussions
and feedback sessions from the Convention’s delegates. There will also be a large interactive panel
discussion on Sunday morning to capture the views of a broad spectrum of public opinion on the 2
matters. The weekend will conclude with a vote on the matters discussed.
Chairperson of the Constitutional Convention, Tom Arnold said:
“Our Constitution gives special prominence on the place of the women in the home. Among
the topics we will examine this weekend, is the possible amendment of the clause in the
Constitution to reflect a more contemporary Ireland.
We will also be examining ways of facilitating greater participation of women in public life and
in politics. Currently, only 15% of TDs are women and, according to the available research,
women are hugely under-represented in public life. We will be considering how best to
address this challenge and examining possible solutions suggested by experts in this area
and the wider public who made submissions to the Convention.
This is the second meeting of the Constitutional Convention. Last month it voted in favour of lowering
the voting age to 16 but has opposed reducing the presidential term.
The proceedings will be streamed live at https://www.constitution.ie/OnlineStreaming.aspx
For further information
Contact
Daniel English
086 3544954
Note to the Editor
1. Article 41.2 of the Constitution 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.
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.
Purpose of the Convention on the Constitution
The Convention was established by Resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. Its purpose is to
consider and deliberate on nine separate matters on which it will make recommendations [as possible
future amendments to the Constitution] and report to the Houses of the Oireachtas. (Enclosed
schedule for future meetings)
For its part, the Government has undertaken to respond to the Convention's recommendations within
four months by way of debates in the Oireachtas and where it agrees with a particular
recommendation to amend the Constitution, to include a timeframe for a referendum.
The Convention is to complete its work within 12 months. Each topic will be deliberated at a weekend
meeting of the Convention.
Membership
The Convention is comprised of 100 people, made up of 66 citizens, randomly selected and broadly
representative of Irish society; 33 parliamentarians, nominated by their respective political parties and
an elected representative from each of the political parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly which
accepted an invitation from the Government and an independent Chairman.