Referendum!

[springbrigid]

Anyone inclined to give an opinion? I am leaning towards a yes/no vote, the yes to remove what I see as sexist language in the constitution, the no because the government are so appalling in terms of providing services and rights to disabled citizens and I feel the clause is paternalistic and pushes care on families yet again

I'm amazed it's like that tbh (have not spent much time there) but given that there are so many people of Irish descent, how is it still like that? Not questioning you, just surprised.

Many people commenting under posts that he was only 50 meters away! These are locals commenting btw!

Ah sure, rules are for the plebs I suppose! I think I mentioned it previously, but the two people I knew irl who socialised with him have nothing positive about him at all. One of those people was from college so before he had any power. And the midwives who worked with him, not a good word between them.

Sorry @Abhannmor I was just giving an example, the Australian, Continental & U. S press have similar. Unsurprisingly Canada are reporting as if it is very much wanted & will be passed 👀

It will be humiliation on a global scale for the govt if the acts are rejected!

I have heard similar over the years too! Would be great to see them get their comeuppance!

Well his personality (or lack thereof - my friend described him as dead behind the eyes!) doesn't seem to have been a barrier thus far!

Well, I can't account for it, but I lived, studied and worked in different parts of England for 27 years, and while it was only ever a small minority of people, it never entirely went away and would rear its ugly head in situations where I wasn't expecting it -- at job interviews, bus stops, neighbours' parties, civic receptions, friends' family occasions, dinner parties, from my students and colleagues. Once in the queue to go into Midnight Mass at Westminster Abbey! Included everything from accusations of being in the IRA, to expressions of bafflement that someone of a nationality they clearly thought was pretty much accurately reflected in late 19thc Punch ape stereotypes had two Oxford degrees, accent imitations, much hilarity that I had only one child by choice etc etc. Often followed by someone remarking in a tone of great self-congratulation that they been canny enough to get an Irish passport.

Who knows why they think what they think? I didn't want my child to grow up with it, and the microaggressions increased around and after the Brexit referendum, so we left the country.

@TemplesofDelight my goodness, I had no idea either. That's terrible. I wouldn't blame you for leaving.
I know English society is very class ridden in comparison to Irish society but my God that sounds awful.

😂 😂. Ah here. They are the best informed electorate of all time.

As for UK citizens of Irish descent....I personally know some who voted for Brexit and are now in the queue for a passport. But such people are to be found everywhere I guess.

Jesus. Sounds awful. As I say, I only spent a short time there and don't recall much guff, but it was Scotland rather than England. The only thing that sticks out in my head was an English fella ripping the piss out of my Irish name because he couldn't pronounce it. But tbf there are plonkers of every nationality. I would have been raging if I got stereotyped!

I voted early this morning, a Yes/No from me.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out but I reckon turnout will be shockingly low. A lot of people just haven't been engaged by the ins and outs of this referendum.

@LolaJ87 it was very poor this morning according to an RTE article, hopefully they'll have further figures on the 6 o clock news. If people don't get out & vote they have no right to complain about the outcome🤷

I think there's quite a lot of confusion about it though so it's easier to just not vote.

I was the first to vote at 7:30 in a very busy city centre station. Reckon turnout will be low

Low turnout reported anyway…I do know a few people who are abstaining deliberately https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/0308/1436677-referendum-ireland/

Great piece on who the government is deeming a rights holder in the ref

https://gcn.ie/disability-activist-care-referendum/

Just back 🗳 🗳
A few leaving and heading in when I was, but apparently overall turnout is low so far. I'm in a small Dublin commuter town, so if it picks up it'll be after work & dinner.

I know where you're coming from.

Latest stats highlighting a poor turnout

It's hard enough to get people to vote under normal circumstances, but they've done such a bad job information wise here. Crazy waste of money.

I can see my house 😂😂😂

Very interesting article. As is the piece at the bottom by GCN themselves about why they changed their stance to no for the care referendum, just goes to show the effect that the FLAC statement had

They have...
the opposition parties are blaming the government of course - although as none of them w elected TDs - other than Aontú who only have one - promoted anything other than Yes-Yes, they're coming across as a bit dishonest, petulant and irresponsible...'the government made me do it'
What a total mess.

Let's see what happens - it would be pretty disingenuous and dishonest of any one faction to claim a victory if there was a 'no' in the care ref, as there are the no/no voters and then so many other people voting yes/no, and at that many are only voting no due to the care part, not the 41.2 deletion part. So really, the results won't be all that intelligible I imagine.

Yes I think FLAC were really important here...fair play to them! And the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. I think they're both very trusted organisations.

One final push, if you haven't or know someone who hasn't voted, please, please, please exercise your democratic right.

This is the few times we get to tell the government what we think.

Whatever you vote please just vote.