Ireland government loses; Voters reject changes to the family and care definition..

On Mar 10, 2024

Dublin: The Irish populace, staunchly clinging to their sense of identity and principles of justice, has delivered a resounding blow to the Leo Varadkar-led government.

Amid growing concerns over the government’s manoeuvring to redefine the notion of family arbitrarily, push forward a perceived “religious agenda” to broaden the scope of durable relationships, and shirk its responsibilities towards the impoverished, millions of citizens mobilised against and successfully thwarted the government’s attempts to amend the Irish constitution.

The outcome of the family referenda polls, announced in the evening, underscored a clear rejection of the government’s proposals, with a staggering 67.7 percent of voters casting their ballots against the proposed amendments.

Remarkably, the government’s initiatives found support in merely one out of Ireland’s 39 Dáil (parliament) constituencies. In Dunlery, by a narrow margin of just 255 votes, 50.3% favoured the proposed changes, while 49.7% opposed them.

However, this solitary victory for the government was overshadowed by resolute dissent elsewhere. Notably, in Dublin Rathdown, the amendment faced a decisive setback, trailing by -371 votes, as 50.6% of voters rejected it, compared to 49.4% in favour.

Similarly, in Dublin Bay South, the tide turned against the government, with the No camp securing 50.35% of the votes, edging out the Yes side by a margin of 193 votes. Notably, prominent figures across the political spectrum, including Fianna Fáil’s Michael Martin (Cork South Central), Fine Gael’s leader and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (Dublin West), Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central), Social Democrats leader Holly Keynes (Cork South West), Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, and Labour leader Ivana Bacik, faced defeat in their respective constituencies as the referendum results reflected a widespread rejection of the government’s proposals.

The resounding rejection of the constitutional amendment, particularly exemplified by County Donegal, where 80.2% voted against it, is being hailed as a historic milestone by the Irish populace. As the ballots for the CARE referendum are being tallied, indications suggest that the No camp will secure an even greater victory.

This outcome is perceived as a significant setback for the politicians who have steered Ireland’s course over the past decade, as well as those aligned with them. The electorate’s message is clear: a palpable dissatisfaction with the leadership of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party, viewed as having compromised Ireland’s moral compass and often swayed previous referendums through misleading tactics.

The rejection of these referendums serves as a robust affirmation that the moral fabric, once eroded by the Labour Party and Sinn Féin, remains integral to Ireland’s identity. The Irish people are resolute in their stance that these values are non-negotiable and will not be forsaken.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald faced vocal disapproval from the crowd when she suggested that her party would pursue another CARE referendum if they assumed power. This reaction underscores the electorate’s firm stance against further attempts to manipulate Ireland’s moral principles for political gain.

Bearing witness to what some perceive as divine intervention, the discovery of ‘Holy Mary’s Coins’ nestled amidst the ballot papers in numerous ballot boxes added a spiritual dimension to the referendum process. Each box contained at least one of these coins, with a particularly noteworthy find in Blanchardstown, where two out of the eleven coins discovered were crafted from pure gold.

Participation of immigrants

The referendum also bore significance due to the inclusion of tens of thousands of immigrants, including Indian nationals who had attained Irish citizenship, in the voting process. Notably, immigrants who lacked voting rights, such as nurses and healthcare workers, actively engaged in campaign efforts within their workplaces. The ruling parties, Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, and Fine Gael, who advocated for providing additional benefits to religious refugees over economic migrants, felt the weight of dissent as immigrants and supporters were urged to cast their votes against them.

Despite the rejection of Varadkar’s government’s policies regarding immigration, particularly concerning the prioritisation of refugees over economic migrants, further repercussions against those entering the country under false pretences, purportedly as Ukrainians, may manifest in upcoming local and general elections.

The opposition parties utilised a strategic advertising campaign, focusing primarily on name recognition, which proved effective in defeating the ruling coalition. Thousands of posters and leaflets were printed and distributed, contributing to their victory at the polls.