'A woman's place is wherever she wants it to be' - Referendums planned to change constitutional references

Two referendums are to be held next year on constitutional references and family care.

The removal of the outdated reference to women's duties in the home along with a new reference to carers that will recognise all those who provide care is planned for the proposed referendums for early next year.

Making the announcement today, Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman said that "a woman's place is wherever she wants it to be."

The proposed referendums that will broaden the definition of a family beyond marriage in the constitution, are to be held on March 8, International Women's Day.

The 39th Amendment, which deals with the definition of family, proposes to amend Article 41.1.1 to add the words "whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships" and also proposes the removal of the words "on which the Family is founded" from Article 41.3.1.

The 40th Amendment is all about the role of women in the home.

The referendum proposes to delete Article 41.2 and replace it with Article 42B which says: 

"The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision."