MEP Maria Walsh chats to people on the streets of Donegal

MEP Maria Walsh was out and about on the streets of Donegal Town, chatting to people about the issues that affect them, and encouraging everyone to vote in the upcoming referendums. 

“I wanted to come and meet people to talk about what we are doing here and to cement the work Cllr Barry Sweeny has been doing in the area over the last five years,” she said. 

“And I wanted to get a sense of the lived experience of the people who will be affected by the referendum. “It will be a step forward towards equality for everybody if passed. 

“We are encouraging Yes to both referendums but the main message is to get out and use your vote in March for the referendums and again in June for the local elections.

“There have been 38 referendums in Ireland since the foundation of the state, leading to 32 amendments to the constitution. These range from EU treaties to the Marriage referendum.

“These upcoming referendums will recognise more roles in the home if passed, and will widen the definition of family to include lone parents, LGBTQI families etc.

“It is all about taking another step forward as a society.”

Following her visit to Donegal Town, the MEP continued on to Ballyshannon to meet people in the Erneside town. 

Referendums on March 8

The first referendum on which people are being asked to vote on March 8 is on The Family Amendment. 

A Yes vote leading to a change to the wording of the constitution would mean that protection would be afforded to different types of family units, and not just those founded on marriage. Marriage will continue to be recognised as an institution that the state must guard with special care and protect against attack. 

A No vote will mean that special constitutional protection would only be given to family units based on marriage.

The second referendum is The Care Amendment. 

A Yes vote would remove one article and change another. One relates to the work of women in the home, and the other to mothers not being obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home. New wording would be inserted, recognising the common good of the care provided by family members to each other. It would also include words saying the state would strive to support the provision of such care within families.

A No vote would mean that the state would continue to recognise the importance to the common good of women within the home. It would also require the state to endeavour to ensure that mothers should not have to go out to work to the neglect of duties in the home.