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

🤣🤣

Unreal waste of money. 23 million. It really is sounding like No is going to triumph so does that mean now they will waste another 23 million to rerun the farce again.
Sinn Féin have already committed to a rerun.

Sinn Fein have resurfaced?

@DanielGault no, they are still lying low! this was a couple of weeks ago. I'll link it again

As I wandered to polling station I was thinking, imagine if they'd channelled this money into childcare.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41335918.html

@DanielGault

@VoteNONO you can very much see that happening.

I voted around 5ish. It was a steady stream of people going in but going on the number of names not crossed out, turn out wasn't great earlier.

The AG's advice as posted on the ditch says that what the citizens assembly proposed in relation to the 40.1 would have on equality was pretty scathing but he didn't really go into what effects the other proposals by the citizens assembly would have. I wonder did SF consider the proposals fully and get legal advice about what it would mean if they tried to put the citizens assembly proposals into the constitution. The way Mary Lou was talking the citizens assembly was the will of the people rather than the will of Catherine Day. I wish there was a proper examination into how easy it would be for the people in charge to manipulate a citizens assembly, especially in the case where the public are disinterested.

"Article 40.1 - Equality
You will recall that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality recommended that a referendum be held to give effect to the first three recommendations of the Citizen’s Assembly on Gender Equality. In relation to the first of those recommendations, namely the insertion of a gender equality and non-discrimination principle into Article 40.1 of the Constitution, it was
the firm advice of my Office that this recommendation would not effectively pursue its own stated objectives. In particular, it was advised that it would:
• not improve existing constitutional protections against sex based discrimination;
• would diminish the constitutional protection currently available to members of other classes of persons who may suffer discrimination; and
• potentially undermine the current constitutional basis on which the State can engage in positive discrimination, afford reasonable accommodation, and make legitimate distinctions between classes of persons in the interest of the common good.
As you are aware, the Government decided not to proceed with an amendment to Article 40.1 of the Constitution."

I'm hoping if it does end up being a No vote, the low turn out isn't used as an excuse for the government to just rerun this shitshow again next year or something.

Although fingers crossed there will be a new government in by that stage and maybe they will take the hint that this is very unpopular...

@MagnificentHats they will blame the "far right" for a low turnout. Whatever happens the "far right" will be blamed!

Which is ironic, because using the political definitions as they existed until about five minutes ago, Leo Varadkar is most right wing Taoiseach we have ever had. To a horrifying degree to an old leftie like me. A five minutes ago sort of leftie, with a belief in social justice that is rooted in Christianity, who thinks housing the homeless and educating the young and attending to the welfare and well being of citizens is absolutely the job of the State.

Exactly @DeanElderberry look at all the lies & disclosures from the Yes campaign this week.. Yet they still cry "far right misinformation" the second anyone challenges them..

I haven't seen lots of far right shit about the refs. Granted I don't be following these people (how is Gemma O'd these days?) but I don't recall seeing much of anything from them on it.

https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/12/26/taoiseach-warns-far-right-myths-are-gaining-traction-in-ireland/

One such article. You can even see it in this thread, a couple of posters were very quick to use the "far right" slur to describe something they didn't agree with.

Wow, he is some spin master. " We will have to push back against that narrative" = as your government we will not be listening to your concerns. Our concerns are a mere narrative

Nothing new there. He really is convinced he's above everyone. Let's be honest, how can he relate to the 'average' person, he's been very privileged all his life and doesn't seem to have made even the slightest effort to poke his toe out of that bubble.

@ChanelNo19EDT lets hope the electorate pushed back against his narrative & agenda today..
Really can't wait for the "far right misinformation" rants to start. Wonder if they'll try pin some of the blame on Russia too 😏
Everything is usually the far right or Russia's fault!

Its become very much, when everything is far right nothing is.

The issue is that Irish politicans never learn from elsewhere, there seems to be some kind of delusional belief in Irish exceptionalism that somehow things that happen in other very similar countries could never happen here.

Well the news will be on shortly. Feels a bit strange. No exit polls, but I saw somewhere that no no is 9/4 with the bookmakers which I gather suggests it may be the result. I don't understand odds.

Do you know why there are no exits? Isn't that unusual?

Nobody could be arsed, is my guess.

Oh! That's bad isn't it.

Think they're not allowed to report exits until after the polls have closed

Maybe that's it. It feels like ages since there was a referendum, I've forgotten everything. Waiting on news now. but will be nothing there as polls don't close till 10.