Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín, has warned that recognising “lasting unions” within the Constitution could lead to a “legal paradise”, potentially triggering disputes over succession, taxation, social welfare, immigration, and family law among others. The party leader’s concerns emerged as his party, Aontú, pushes for a “No-No” stance in the upcoming dual referendums.
Tóibín was joined by Aontú’s local election candidates during the final referendum campaign press briefing they held in Dublin. The government’s plan to broaden the definition of family to include “lasting unions” such as live-in partners and their offspring, and amend sexist language surrounding women’s “domestic duties” to language that acknowledges care in families, is the matter under consideration at Friday’s referendums.
Tóibín was highly critical of the vague terminology used to describe “lasting unions” and believed its integration into the Constitution would carry “serious consequences”. He believes this ambiguity presents a legal paradise, offering many individuals the chance to litigate to fight for their rights, thereby deviating from the essence of democracy.
The Aontú Labour party leader also critiqued the second vote focusing on care, describing it as a “void shell”. He claimed that the proposed care amendment was conceived by the Department of Finance and is merely a scheme to limit the rights of citizens to access care. He further accused the government of shielding itself from any responsibility towards caregivers or individuals requiring care with regard to their rights, by contending this amendment does not impose strict liability on the State to back care, or acknowledge care at a wider societal level.
Mr Tóibín reported a noticeable swing towards the ‘No Vote’ as he continued his campaigning. He expressed how the understanding of the particularities related to these specific amendments directly are pushing people more towards dismissal.
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