Referendum pt 2

[VoteNONO]

Started another thread as the first one was full.

Deluded or what!!!

Oh god ....the optics lads. No I don't mean the ones whiskey and vodka come out of.

I'm waiting for the Guardian editorial - Sexist ould paddies want to keep mammy at home. Alternatively - Church orders Irish to vote No in shock result. Written by some fauxminist like Zoe Williams. Snigger....

Voilà:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/09/vote-referendum-modernise-ireland-constitution-women-home

Niall Boylan, whose poll last week gave some of us some hope, has some things to say this morning, including:

Another question that needs answering is the role of the National Women’s Council and whether they are representative of the women of Ireland. If indeed a No vote is proclaimed by the end of the day, and they nailed the colours to the “Yes” mast, do they have their finger on the pulse of the women of Ireland?
12:01 PM · Mar 9, 2024

https://twitter.com/Niall_Boylan/status/1766434176012620061

I'd never heard of him before last week, but respect him for keeping his ears open.

.

This

Is it time for a new feminism in Irish Politics?

One that centers women and children ?

It's obvious now that the National Women's Council are a state funded NGO totally out of touch with the concerns of most women and mothers.

What about reclaiming a feminism for Irish women?

For once in Ireland we could try to lead instead of following.

A grassroots feminism? Any takers?

The Countess is a grassroots organisation trying to gain momentum - they are focused on trying to get rid of the disastrous GRA, and ensuring that 'sex' rather than 'gender' is the focus for legislation and policy.

For example, I didn't realise until recently that Sex is not a protected characteristic in our Equality legislation, only Gender. And since you can be whatever gender you want to be, it's sort of meaningless. Women are discriminated against because of our sex.

Agreed. The Countess will hopefully gain some traction after this. They are informed and articulate and seem to be genuinely representative of women.

We didn't understand, it wasn't explained properly.

Tbf, that's not completely wrong.

I know why I was No/No. I was perfectly clear on why.

But there is definitely a strong proportion of voters who found the wording confusing, wanted more clarity on 'durable relationships' and would have been more likely to be Yes voters if the wording was clearer. (Whereas I would still have been No, on both, as I felt it weakens women's position, including that of single mothers (which I am), a group that they were patronisingly purporting to help)

I too want a feminism that represents all women and respects motherhood. That’s why I support the Countess. Only 2 female writers in the newspapers that I read, advocated for No, Brenda Power and Breda O’Brien. Now I wouldn’t support Breda on abortion, but I’m sure that she and I would find common ground on surrogacy and on motherhood. I don’t have to agree 100% with someone to cooperate on policies of importance to me.

I was the person who mentioned that the Irish equality legislation protects gender not sex so we are at a much greater disadvantage than our UK counterparts, and that is why Barbie Kardashian is in a women’s prison and there is no legal way of moving him.

But today let’s take the win and gain strength to fight the battles ahead. Thanks to all on this thread, I go on boards but never post there, it’s so angry that I have to meditate afterwards!!

Great day for Irish women.

Hoping it could be a fresh start for Irish Feminism.

Thanks to all on this board for the support. I have been quietly following!

💪💪💪💪

From the RTÉ website:

Call for O'Gorman to resign over campaign

Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan has called for Minister Roderic O'Gorman to resign over his handling of the Government's referendum campaign.
Speaking in Limerick, Mr Quinlivan said: "This has been a catastrophic failure by Government who, in their arrogance, listened to nobody."
"There was no pre-legislative scrutiny, even though Sinn Féin and others requested this and the Children's Committee was willing to sit for as long as it took."
"The Government arrogantly pressed on without clarifying issues that they knew would cause problems."
Deputy Quinlivan continued: "Specific interventions by An Taoiseach around Care with his Thatcherite-type comments, Micheál Martin's arrogant mansplaining on TV isolated a load of people, the use of the word 'strive' sent a shudder through most Carers, and many people with disabilities felt left behind."

He seems to have forgotten than Sinn Féin also campaigned for a Yes vote, and that Mary Lou has also stated she would re-run this shitshow of a referendum.

They do have form for selective memories tbf 😁

Brilliant 😂 😂

Irish people vote for endless misery !

I had to laugh at the news when the first box they emptied had the biggest, blackest X they could fit in the square.

Barbie Kardashian was moved from the women's prison months ago. Afaik, all male-born prisoners are now in male prisons.

Delighted today as an Irish Mammy living in Scotland 🎉🎉🎉 Can't vote but would have voted No, No.

I'm proud to be part of a crowdfund to get the UK Equality Act clarified via the Supreme Court - Sex should mean biological sex.

Anyway Happy Women's Day (they don't have penises 🍆🍆) and St Patrick's Day (no snakes either 🐍🐍)

By the way, my in laws had Mary Robinson and her husband over for dinner when they were all young in the 1970s. MIL has a PhD but was 'a mother in the home' at the time. Apparently she was completely looked down upon at the dinner table. Said to FIL afterwards 'we're never having them again!'

Only after an uproar by women's groups and it finally coming out in the media. They had to campaign for ages to get people to even notice.

At the time I contacted the Irish Prison Service and got a waffly response basically stating that all prisoners are accommodated in accordance with their legal gender. So basically if another man has a GRC he could well be put in a women's prison. It's bullshit!

Carol Nolan said "While we await final confirmation that both referendum propositions have been defeated, I think it is safe to say that the people have sent a very clear message to Government; we no longer want any kind of relationship with you, durable or otherwise."

Jesus I miss Irish wit! You're making me homesick...

😂😂

Interesting (but not surprising) that nobody from the main parties are anywhere to be seen this morning - probably hiding behind the couch!

😅if I never hear the words 'durable relationship' again, it will be too soon.