The euphoria attached with voting festival is upon us. Try not to reveal you weren’t aware. The concluding moments of this week witnessed the least impressive referendum campaign since one concerning religious disrespect, which was subdued amidst allegations from both camps further fueling contentiousness with the false statements of their adversaries and the continual disdain shown by the public. This seems somewhat unjustified, given there are seldom referendums that have attracted Dáil debates over topics like throuples. Yet, there are always going to be grievances.
Admittedly, the factions involved are puzzling. Almost all of the political parties are on one side, with such unlikely alliances as Fine Gael being aligned with People Before Profit and Fianna Fáil backing the same stance as Sinn Féin. The ranks are further bolstered by certain lawyers, numerous societal organisations, and a considerable portion of government-funded NGOs. These entities are all spearheading campaigns supporting the government’s propositions which, they reassure, are independently funded and not using the subsidies provided by the government. Interesting.
In contrast, the opposition camp includes Peadar Tóibín’s party Aontú, a number of independent TDs and senators, a variety of spontaneous assemblies, an additional set of lawyers, individual campaigners of high prominence – and convention-defying Michael McDowell. The government and its allies have had a tough time lobbying for the proposed alterations to the Constitution, primarily intended to broadening the conception of the family to include relationships outside marriage and replacing the notion of women’s home-bound role with that of caregiving at home.
To summarise, The Irish Times offers a clearer interpretation of the changes aimed at:
The “family” referendum seeks modification of Constitution’s article 41.1 to make the state recognise the family as being founded on not just marriage but also on other long-term relationships.
The “care” referendum aims to abolish article 41.2, which acknowledges the role of women in the home contributing to general welfare and ensures the state would endeavour to protect mothers from economic pressures making them work outside the home.
Another proposed article, 42B, affirms the state’s commitment to support care arrangements within the family due to the ties amongst its members.
Arthur Beesley provides more detailed insights into the campaign and related issues.
There has been considerable unease about the potential implications of impending policy amendments, as reported by Jennifer Bray on the In the News podcast. The forthcoming results could spell embarrassment for the governing bodies if the proposals are rejected. The polls will be open until 10 p.m. and the counting will start at 9 a.m. the next day. The turnout is predicted to be modest.
Former chair of the RTÉ board, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, retorted stoutly to Catherine Martin’s depiction of events leading to her resignation. Minister for Media, Martin, was challenged by Ní Raghallaigh’s account and charged her with a passive approach towards the connected predicament. The same accusations have plagued Martin from her political and media adversaries. Soon after, Terence O’Rourke was appointed as the new chairman of the board.
Opposition entities have requested a further debriefing from Martin in the Dáil in light of the situation. The intensive ministerial schedules surrounding St Patrick’s Day provides a reprieve, making the Dáil break for a week. There will be another two-week recess for Easter following the week they return. By the time fresh specifications about RTÉ are set to surface, the focus can shift forward rather than retracing past actions, which perhaps is optimal for all involved.
The outcome does impact you, in fact. In coming months, a fundamental question surrounding RTE’s financial future will be how to fund it – through a continuation of the licence fee or some alternate financial plan. Martin’s goal is to eradicate the licence fee and introduce direct funding from the exchequer; a proposition that faces considerable governmental opposition. However, if Martin’s plan materialises, it can save up to €160 annually – provided that you’ve been paying your licence fee, of course.
Recently, a law permitting assisted dying for terminal patients moved closer to becoming a reality, as advised by an Oireachtas committee, which raised the possibility of the legislation coming into existence in the future. Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins, who was hospitalised last week due to illness, remained active in his official roles while recuperating in the hospital. Despite a slightly reduced schedule of upcoming engagements, President Higgins was discharged from the hospital and is set to meet with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
In other news, the Government has initiated the formation of a specialised committee to analyse the salaries of higher-level civil servants and the leaders of semistate establishments. According to Paschal Donohoe, this move is essential to retain the top talents for these roles. This development is expected to result in salary increases for all involved.
On the political front, Nikki Haley stepped back from the Super Tuesday republican primary races, thus setting the stage for a second showdown between Biden and Trump.
This weekend, look forward to the publication of the Kenova report, which investigates how British security authorities managed their IRA informant, Freddie Scappaticci. Continuous updates from the referendum count will be available at irishtimes.com. Lastly, tune in to the Inside Politics Podcast, where Hugh Linehan covers the expansion of the Dutch farmer’s movement, BBB, across Europe.
Caroline van Der Plas spearheads the initiative, her mother being Nuala Fitzpatrick – as stated by Naomi O’Leary. Ensure you subscribe to political notifications for top-notch news, analysis, and commentary delivered straight to your mobile. By keeping The Irish Times on your WhatsApp, you can remain updated. The In The News podcast, now available daily, can be found here for the most recent episode.